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 for a Forest school clothing check list

Saplings Class

Welcome to Saplings Class.

Teachers: Mrs Taylor
Teaching assistants: Mrs Greenwood / Miss McSparran

General Information

Please check your child's Seesaw account to keep up to date with all relevant information.

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 Seesaw Platform where we regularly post updates of our learning.

Willow Class

Welcome to Willow Class.

Teacher: Mr Taylor 
Teaching assistant: Miss McSparran / Mrs Greenwood

General Information

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

Homework

What we've been doing

If you are a member of our School Community, please visit our Seesaw Platform where we regularly post updates of our learning.

Elder Class

Welcome to Elder Class.

Teachers: Mrs Gough
Teaching assistant : Mrs Walkington / Miss Starr-Kay / Mrs Conway

General Information

Please check your child's Seesaw account to keep up to date with all relevant information.

Curriculum 

Homework

What we've been doing

If you are a member of our School Community, please visit the Seesaw platform where we regularly post updates of our learning.

Sycamore Class

Welcome to Sycamore Class.

Teacher: Miss Hoyle
Teaching assistant: Mrs Austin, Miss Austin

General Information

Please check your child's Seesaw account to keep up to date with all relevant information.

Curriculum

Homework

What we've been doing

If you are a member of our School Community, please visit the Seesaw platform where we regularly post updates of our learning.

Beech Class

Welcome to Beech Class.

Class Teacher: Miss Chapman, Mrs Nunn
Teaching Assistant: Miss Austin / Mrs Austin / Mrs Conway

Please check your child's Seesaw account to keep up to date with all relevant information.

Curriculum

Homework

What we've been doing

If you are a member of our School Community, please visit the Seesaw Platform where we regularly post updates of our learning.

Great Oaks Class

Welcome to Great Oaks Class.

Teacher: Mrs Hutchings
Teaching assistant: Mrs Austin / Miss Austin

General Information

Please check your child's Seesaw account to keep up to date with all relevant information.

Curriculum

Homework

What we've been doing

If you are a member of our School Community, please visit the Seesaw Platform where we regularly post updates of our learning.