Classes
Forest School
Where do we do Forest School?
We are very lucky to have our own Forest School on site, as well as an additional offsite location which we have the kind permission of the Leonard Cheshire home across the road to use. Our own site was developed in 2014 and has been planted and developed by our own students. Our offsite Forest School is in more mature woodland which we are developing and managing alongside the landowners. We have a team of staff working together to deliver Forest School sessions, two qualified level 3 leaders and two members of staff currently working to complete their training.
Why is there a Forest School at Sacred Heart?
Many children learn best outdoors and benefit from the child-led learning available at Forest School. Children can use the skills they learn in Forest School when they are learning inside the classroom too, we make links to their classroom learning in science, numeracy and literacy, bringing a relevance to their classroom work.
Forest Schools helps children to:
- increase their self-awareness, self-esteem, and self-respect
- improve and maintain their physical and mental health
- give them the opportunity to work with other children, developing the essential social skills for collaboration and team work
- allow them to increase their confidence through developing new skills
- promote their imagination, independence and creativity
- connect with nature and develop an understanding of the natural world
- offer opportunities for children of all abilities and backgrounds to play together
- provide opportunities for developing social skills and learning
- build resilience through risk taking and challenge, problem solving, and dealing with new situations
- learn about their environment and the wider community.
What do the children do at Forest School?
The children lead their own exploration in Forest School and so every session and every child’s experience differs. Each session involves a risk assessment, collaborative games and story, opportunity to learn, practice and apply skills as well as self initiated play. All sessions finish with a reflection on our achievements and offer a chance to goal set for future sessions.
What is Forest School?
Forest school began in Scandinavia and has been developing in the UK for the last twenty years. It is a child centered play based way of learning which happens outdoors in all weathers with the exception of high winds. Forest School offers opportunity for holistic development allowing deep personal learning to take place. A Forest School program takes place over an extended period of time allowing slow and deep development in the child. We return to the same outdoor space over time allowing observation of seasonal change and opportunity for developed play. There is possibility for managed risk this could be physical such as fire lighting or climbing, or emotional such as trying new ways of working. Forest School is a safe and managed outdoor experience with opportunity to seek and discover as well as learn and hone skills. There is a necessary and repetitious structure to each session with enables the learner to relax and respectfully listen to elements of instruction, observing boundaries with the understanding that opportunities for freedom and self-development will come out of it. This develops a real understanding of the old adage ‘practice makes perfect’ as skills are taught and reapplied to new situations and contexts at a time relevant to the learner.
Thank you to all those parents who make sure their children have the correct clothing for Forest School. We only have a limited supply of spares so please do send them with a long sleeved shirt, long trousers and sensible footwear.
Click to check your Forest School DayClick for a Forest school clothing check list
Saplings Class
Welcome to Saplings Class.
Teachers: Miss Tomlinson
Teaching assistants: Mrs Greenwood
Please find attached an overview of what we will cover during the year.
General Information
Forest school is on Tuesdays. Please send your child into school in their Forest school clothes with their uniform in a bag.
P.E is every Friday. Please ensure children have their PE kits in school at all times. Long hair needs to be fastened back and earrings/jewellery removed.
Thank you
During any warm weather spells you may send your child into school with suncream and a sunhat.
Suncream will not be applied by staff but the children can apply it under staff supervision.
Curriculum
In Reception, much of the curriculum is delivered through focused and structured play. The teacher and assistants work together to set up activities arising from ongoing observations to further the physical, emotional and academic development of the children.
In Saplings Class we are always busy! Every half-term we learn a new topic and we enjoy learning about our topics through our classroom areas.
Homework
What we've been doing
If you are a member of our School Community, please visit our Facebook page where we regularly post updates of our learning.
Willow Class
Welcome to Willow Class.
Teacher: Mrs Taylor
Teaching assistant: Miss McSparran, Mrs Kostrzebska (Mrs K)
General Information
P.E is every Tuesday. Please ensure children have their PE kits in school at all times. Long hair needs to be fastened back and earrings/jewellery removed.
Forest school is on Monday afternoon.
Please send your child into school in their Forest school clothes.
Thank you
During any warm weather spells. You may send your child into school with suncream and a sunhat.
Suncream will not be applied by staff but the children can apply it under staff supervision.
Curriculum
Our Knowledge Organisers for this half term:
Homework
Spellings will be set every Tuesday (starting after Christmas), which will be tested the following Tuesday.
Homework is set weekly and consists of a set of spellings to learn, reading as often as possible at home and accessing NumBots and Purple Mash at home.
Reading for pleasure books are changed every Wednesday.
What we've been doing
If you are a member of our School Community, please visit our Facebook page where we regularly post updates of our learning.
Elder Class
Welcome to Elder Class.
Teachers: Mr Taylor
Teaching assistant : Mrs Walkington, Mr Milner
General Information
P.E is every Tuesday. Please ensure children have their PE kits in school at all times.
Forest School takes place every Thursday afternoon, please come in Forest School clothes all day.
Curriculum
Our Knowledge Organisers for this half term:
Homework
Spellings will be sent every Monday, which will be tested the following week also on the Monday. Spellings will include words from the Y2 high frequency words list.
Homework is set weekly and consists of a set of spelling to learn and reading as often as possible at home.
What we've been doing
If you are a member of our School Community, please visit our Facebook page where we regularly post updates of our learning.
Sycamore Class
Welcome to Sycamore Class.
Teacher: Miss Teague
Teaching assistant: Mrs Austin
General Information
PE days are Monday and Friday. Please ensure children have their PE kits in school at all times.
Forest School will be from Sept 24 – Feb 25. Forest School is on a Thursday morning, please come to school in Forest School clothes and bring uniform to change into.
Spelling will be sent home on a Friday and tested on the following Friday.
We have a Samba drumming lesson on Friday mornings.
Curriculum
Our Knowledge Organisers for this half term:
Homework
Spellings will be set every Tuesday, which will be tested the following week also on the Tuesday. Spellings will include words from the Y3 high frequency words list.
Homework is set weekly and consists of a set of spelling to learn, reading as often as possible at home and completing tasks set by the class teacher on Timestables Rock Stars.
What we've been doing
If you are a member of our School Community, please visit our Facebook page where we regularly post updates of our learning.
Ash Class
Welcome to Ash Class.
Teacher: Miss Chapman.
Teaching assistant: Mrs Conway, Mrs Gough
General Information
PE is on a Monday. Please ensure children have their PE kits in school at all times.
Forest School is on a Wednesday afternoon Feb 25 - July 25.
Curriculum
Our Knowledge Organisers for this half term:
Homework
Spellings will be sent out every Wednesday, which will be tested the following week on the Wednesday. Spellings will include words from year 4 high frequency word lists.
Homework is set weekly and consists of a set of spelling to learn, reading as often as possible at home and completing tasks set by the class teacher on Timestables Rock Stars.
What we've been doing
If you are a member of our School Community, please visit our Facebook page where we regularly post updates of our learning.
Beech Class
Welcome to Beech Class.
Class Teacher: Miss Hoyle
Teaching Assistant: Miss Austin
P.E. is on a Monday. Please make sure your child has their full PE kit in school at all times.
Forest School is on a Tuesday afternoon Feb 25 - July 25.
Curriculum
Our Knowledge Organisers for this half term:
Homework
Spellings will be set every Thursday, which will be tested the following week also on the Thursday. Spellings will include words from the Y5 and Y6 common exception words.
Homework is set weekly and consists of a set of spelling to learn, reading as often as possible at home and completing tasks set by the class teacher on Timestables Rock Stars.
What we've been doing
If you are a member of our School Community, please visit our Facebook page where we regularly post updates of our learning.
Great Oaks Class
Welcome to Great Oaks Class.
Teacher: Mrs Hutchings
Teaching assistant: Mrs Thornton Angus
General Information
P.E. is on a Monday. Please make sure your child has their full PE kit in school at all times.
Forest School is on a Tuesday afternoon from Sept 24 – Feb 25. Please come into school wearing Forest School clothes.
Swimming is on a Thursday morning.
Curriculum
Our Knowledge Organisers for this half term:
Homework
Spellings will be set every Wednesday, which will be tested the following week also on the Wednesday. Spellings will include words from the Y5 and Y6 common exception words.
Homework is set weekly and consists of a set of spelling to learn, reading as often as possible at home and completing tasks set by the class teacher on Timestables Rock Stars.
What we've been doing
If you are a member of our School Community, please visit our Facebook page where we regularly post updates of our learning.