Outdoor Learning…

Because not all classrooms have walls.

Our rural setting within parkland and woodland offers valuable opportunities for every Beechwood pupil to benefit from a wealth of Outdoor Learning opportunities. 

From Nursery to Year 4, pupils enjoy regular timetabled Forest School lessons, and throughout the School, teachers regularly take lessons outside – from relaxed reading groups on the lawns, to tracking animal footprints in the woods, and making music in “Treetops”, our Outdoor Classroom. A recent school production of “The Wind in the Willows” was even staged almost entirely outside!

Forest School provides a holistic learning environment and as such, it is impossible to pin down the many and varied benefits down to a specific skill set or curriculum area. 

Our Forest School Leader is both a qualified teacher and Forest School practitioner, and runs fun and engaging sessions which provide an opportunity for children to connect with nature. Experiencing life outside the classroom gives children a chance to boost their independence, self-confidence and engagement with learning.  We encourage creative and imaginative play, physical activity and risk-taking within a safe environment. Negotiation and team work are key elements of Forest School. Children’s social interactions and respect for one another are always a joy to behold in the Forest School setting with many new relationships forming.

It is impossible to pin down the many and varied benefits to a specific skill set or curriculum area; Forest School provides a holistic learning environment.