Chorlton C of E Primary School is committed to giving children the opportunity to learn in the outdoor environment. We believe that taking learning outside is good for promoting children's self esteem, well being, behaviour, co-operative learning and problem solving. These skills feed back positively into classroom work. 

We run the Forest School Programme which builds on the natural instinct to learn and explore that everybody is born with. It offers opportunities for children to make choices for their own learning and take and manage risks. Development of these skills encourages positive attitudes and behaviour. 

Children may enjoy such experiences as building shelters, woodland craftwork, telling stories, cooking over fires, climbing trees, hunting for minibeasts and making mud pies. As the programme develops woodland tools are introduced to extend learning and provide new opportunities for risk management.

The concept was developed in Scandinavia, and operates on the principle that children of all ages benefit from the learning opportunities present in a woodland environment. They found that by taking the majority of their learning outdoors, whatever the weather, their children became resilient, confident and independent learners.

We currently have a timetable that ensures each class experiences a block of Forest School sometime in the year.  A lottery grant alongside funds raised by the PTA enabled us to develop a Forest School site within our own grounds. The PTA has also supported us to acquire the resources needed within the sessions. 

Please do read through the below links for more information on Forest Schools.