Our forest school values

ALL children are included at Grass Roots Muddy Boots. 

We put play at the heart of our Forest School. Children are given the opportunity to feel good about themselves and their abilities by learning in a way that suits them. 

We like to have fun 🤩 

We know that all children are unique and learn in different ways. We pride ourselves on putting each child at the centre of their own development, empowering them to follow their own interests, explore and stay curious. 

We know that children have an incredible ability to teach themselves given the right environment and we strive to achieve this. 

We support the development of the ‘whole child’, their wellbeing, relationships with others and acquisition of skills and knowledge. 

What is Forest School? Forest School is a child-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term programme that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting. Forest School has a developmental ethos shared by thousands of trained practitioners around the world, who are constantly developing their learning styles and skills to support new and imaginative learners. Its roots reach back to the open-air culture, friluftsliv, or free air life, seen as a way of life in Scandinavia where Forest School began. It arrived in the UK in 1993 and has grown from strength to strength since then. The process helps and facilitates more than knowledge-gathering, it helps learners develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. It creates a safe, non-judgemental nurturing environment for learners to try stuff out and take risks. Forest School inspires a deep and meaningful connection to the world and an understanding of how a learner fits within it.

• How does Forest School help children? These are just a few ... 
•  It promotes positive well-being • Children learn through free play 
• It supports children’s interests and natural curiosities 
• Children build strong relationships 
•  Improves children’s communication skills 
•  Children learn to be resilient 
• Children learn the value of failing in the learning process 
• It develops children’s physical development 
•  Children learn how to assess their own level of risk 
• Children learn how to keep themselves safe 
• It promotes independence and problem solving skills 
•  Children develop high levels of creativity 
•  Children become more confident 
• Children begin to understand empathy for others 
• Children learn to cooperate and work collaboratively 
• Develop listening and attention skills 
• Children understand physical boundaries 
• Children develop knowledge and an appreciation of the natural world and how to protect it.