Alresford Primary School

Headteacher: Sarah Bryson

Ford Lane, Colchester, Essex CO7 8AU

01206 822731

office@alresford.essex.sch.uk

Alresford Primary School Forest School and Wild Wellbeing

Welcome to our Forest School and Wild Wellbeing page! 

This page will be the main source of information for Forest School and Wild Wellbeing at Alresford Primary School. Throughout the year we will post photos, videos and documents related to Forest School and Wild Wellbeing. Please see below for more information! Information regarding the continued development of our on site Forest School area including photos of the ongoing development can be found near the end of this webpage. Additional photos from previous Forest School sessions can also be found near the end of this page.

For the 2022/2023 academic year, we have made the decision to deliver Forest School sessions in the Spring and Summer terms for children in KS1 and Year 3 only. Wild Wellbeing sessions will be offered to selected KS2 children during the Autumn term.  A full schedule and breakdown of when specific classes can expect to receive these outdoor based opportunities can be found below and by navigating through this page. 

Information regarding Wild Wellbeing can be found near the bottom of this page whereas Forest School information can be found at the top of this page. Both the Wild Wellbeing and Forest School information will be updated as the year progresses - please ensure you keep up to date.

Each Forest School and Wild Wellbeing session is planned and delivered by Mr. Dale Milgate (Level 3 Forest School leader.) The entire Forest School and Wild Wellbeing programme is overseen by Mrs. Loretta Baker (Deputy Head/Year 6 Teacher) and Mr. Dale Milgate.

I hope you find this page useful. Please check back regularly for updates to Forest School and Wild Wellbeing at Alresford Primary School! 

Written by: Mr. Dale Milgate - Level 3 Forest School leader.

Forest School Leader Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Mr. Dale Milgate Mrs. Loretta Baker

dmilgate@alresford.essex.sch.uk 

dmiilgate@alresfordprimary.com 

lbaker@alresford.essex.sch.uk 

lbaker@alresfordprimary.com

Please speak to the school office to request an in person meeting. Please speak to the school office to request an in person meeting.

 

Page last updated: Monday 24th April 2023 - 22.34pm

2022/2023 Schedule - Forest School and Wild Wellbeing

Autumn 1 2022 Autumn 2 - 2022 Spring 1 - 2023 Spring 2 - 2023 Summer 1 - 2023 Summer 2 - 2023

Key Stage 2

Wild Wellbeing

 

Key Stage 2

Wild Wellbeing

 

Year 2 Forest School

Year 3 Forest School

Year 2 Forest School

Year 3 Forest School

Reception Forest School

Year 1 Forest School

Reception Forest School

Year 1 Forest School

Written by: Mr. Dale Milgate - Forest School Leader. 8th September 2022.

Forest School - Spring and Summer terms 2023

Forest School 2023

Following another successful year of offering Forest School sessions, it is our pleasure to announce the Forest School schedule for 2022/2023! The Forest School schedule and session dates can be found on this web page. Information regarding all Forest School sessions scheduled to occur during 2022/2023 will be sent out via email and communicated in our school newsletter which is sent out via email every Friday afternoon. 

The Forest School class schedule is subject to short term changes and cancellations. Please check back to this page for regular updates. Any changes to the Forest School schedule will be emailed and posted on this page

The Forest School programme is free to all children at Alresford Primary School and will take place during afternoons on a 2-week alternate week basis. Please check with your child's class teacher to find out what day your child's sessions will take place. All of theses sessions will be delivered by Mr. Milgate, a qualified level 3 Forest School leader.

Introduction Forest School videos hosted by the Forest School leader (Mr. Milgate) can be found further down this web page. These videos are designed for both children and adults.

Mr. Milgate - Forest School Leader.

Forest School Spring term:

(January 2023 - March 2023)

Year 2 (Mondays) and Year 3 (Tuesdays)

Forest School Summer term:

(April 2023 - July 2023)

Reception (Mondays) and Year 1 (Tuesdays)

We would like to thank the following people, companies and organisations for their support and contributions to the Forest School programme at Alresford Primary School:

Alresford Primary School PTA, Alresford Primary School Governors, Alresford Primary School administration and premises staff, Essex Wildlife Trust, Cockaynes Wood Trust, Mark Brumpton Tree Services, The Parents of the children at Alresford Primary School and all the Forest School Adult Helpers.

Forest School website last updated: Monday 24th April 2023

Forest School 2022/2023 session schedule

Please see below for the full 2022/2023 Forest School session schedule. This schedule is subject to short term changes and cancellations due to weather, staff absence, adult availability etc. Please ensure you keep up to date with your emails to ensure your child is prepared for their Forest School sessions.

Your child's class will be split into 2 separate groups to ensure the limit on child participants in a Forest School session is not exceeded. Your child's teacher is responsible for deciding the Forest School groups. The schedule below details when each group will receive their Forest School sessions. Please check with your child's teacher for details about which group your child is in.

All Forest School sessions will take place on the afternoon of the dates listed below. Forest School will begin at 1.15pm once the children have returned from their lunch break and finish promptly at 3pm. This will allow the children to return to class, change any clothing (if needed) and collect their belongings before class dismissal at 3.15pm/3.20pm (KS1/KS2.) 

In the event of a cancelled Forest School session, the children will stay in class and receive their normal curriculum lesson for that afternoon. We will endeavour to re-schedule any cancelled sessions if there is time and availability do to so - please note this may not always be possible. We do not re-schedule Forest School sessions for individual children in the event of child absence due to the strict limits on group numbers.

Should any amendments to the Forest School schedule be required during the school year, you will be notified via email from the school office. Any amendments to the Forest School schedule will also be posted below. Please ensure you keep up to date with any changes.

Year 2/Year 3 Forest School schedule - Spring term (January - March 2023)

Year 2 - Group 1 Year 2 - Group 2 Year 3 - Group 1 Year 3 - Group 2

Monday 9th January 2023

Monday 23rd January 2023

Monday 6th February 2023

Monday 6th March 2023

Monday 20th March 2023

(5 sessions)

Complete!

Monday 16th January 2023

Monday 30th January 2023

Monday 27th February 2023

Monday 13th March 2023

Monday 27th March 2023

(5 sessions)

Complete!

Tuesday 10th January 2023

Tuesday 24th January 2023

Tuesday 7th February 2023

Tuesday 28th February 2023

Tuesday 14th March 2023

(5 sessions)

Complete!

Tuesday 17th January 2023

Tuesday 31st January 2023

Tuesday 21st February 2023

Tuesday 7th March 2022

Tuesday 21st March 2023

(5 sessions)

Complete!

Reception/Year 1 Forest School Schedule - Summer term (April - July 2023)

*UPDATED*

Reception - Group 1

Reception - Group 2

Year 1 - Group 1 Year 1 - Group 2

Monday 17th April 2023

Monday 15th May 2023

Monday 12th June 2023

Monday 26th June 2023

Monday 10th July 2023

(5 sessions)

Monday 24th April 2023

Monday 22nd May 2023

Monday 19th June 2023

Monday 3rd July 2023

Monday 17th July 2023

(5 sessions)

 Tuesday 18th April 2023

Tuesday 2nd May 2023

Tuesday 16th May 2023

Tuesday 6th June 2023

Tuesday 20th June 2023

Tuesday 4th July 2023

(6 sessions)

Tuesday 25th April 2023

Tuesday 9th May 2023

Tuesday 23rd May 2023

Tuesday 13th June 2023

Tuesday 27th June 2023

Tuesday11th July 2023

(6 sessions)

Latest schedule update: Monday 17th April 2023

Forest School information, polices and documents

Information for children and parents

To ensure a smooth start to the Forest School, I have written the following documents which may be helpful to all adults and children and offer an insight as to what can be expected from the Forest School programme. 

These documents have been written to try and answer as many questions as possible about Forest School at Alresford Primary School. If your question is not answered in any of the documents listed below, please contact the Forest School leader - Mr. Milgate via the contact information at the top of this page.

To find information about a specific element of Forest School, please press CTRL + F and type in the subject you are looking for.

Name
 Forest School donations 2021-2022 [V1].pdfDownload
 Forest School FAQ 2021-2022 [V2].pdfDownload
 Forest School Parent information 2021-2022 [V2].pdfDownload
Showing 1-3 of 3

Information for adult helpers

Any adult who wishes to participate in our Forest School programme must read the Forest School adult handbook document before your first session. This document covers safety aspects of Forest School as well as outlining various policies and procedures which are vital within the Forest School session and within the school premises.

The document titled 'Forest School - volunteering at Forest School 2021-2022' outlines what can be expected during a Forest School session whilst also detailing the various different roles and responsibilities an adult helper may have during a session. Information regarding an adult helper's first session can also be found here.

The location and timing of every Forest School session are subject to change and cancellation due to weather and adult availability.

Name
 Forest School Adult handbook 2021-2022 [V2].pdfDownload
 Forest School Covid19 2021-2022 [V1].pdfDownload
 Forest School Volunteering at Forest School 2021-2022 [V1].pdfDownload
Showing 1-3 of 3

Adult helpers DBS check information

All adult helpers are required to complete a volunteering DBS safeguarding check before beginning their Forest School sessions. This procedure is handled by our finance officer.

 The DBS check can take up to 6 weeks to complete and return to us. In line with our safeguarding policy, all adult helpers must wait until we have received a notification stating their DBS check has cleared before they can begin their Forest School sessions. We will notify you when this happens.

Volunteering DBS checks are valid for up to 3 years.

Please see the documents listed below for a full list of acceptable identification documents.  More information about completing a compulsory DBS check can be found in documents below.

Name
 Acceptable DBS identification documents.pdfDownload
 DBS consent form.pdfDownload
 DBS requirements - Mrs. Kerry Beere.pdfDownload
Showing 1-3 of 3

Latest Forest School documentation update: Monday 29th August 2022.

Interested in being an adult helper at Forest School?

At Forest School, it is vital we have adult helpers.  Not only does having extra adults present ensure our safety and safeguarding measures are upheld, but it all allows for more activities to be able to take place during a Forest School session. Without adult helpers, Forest School could not go ahead.

In order to preserve the independent learning environment at Forest School, we must be careful not to overload Forest School sessions with too many adults as this can be detrimental to the child's independent learning development. Our ratio of adults:children at Forest School is 1:5 - this cannot be exceeded for any reason.

Adult helpers do not have to be just be parents - Adult helpers can be anyone over the age of 18 and willing and able to complete an enhanced DBS check. Adults may not attend Forest School until their DBS check is complete and returned to us. DBS check can take up to 6 weeks to complete - we have no control over the timing of this process. Therefore, the sooner the DBS process has begun, the sooner it will be completed and your Forest School journey with us can begin!

If you are interested in becoming an adult helper at Forest School, please read the documents listed in the 'Information for adult helpers' and 'adult helpers DBS check; sections listed above. If you are happy to proceed, please send an email stating your intention to become a adult help at Forest School to Mrs. L Baker - lbaker@alresford.essex.sch.uk 

Recruitment for the 2023/2024 Forest School sessions will begin in the 2023 Summer term. We are aiming to have all adults who are willing to participate in Forest School sessions by September 2023. 

Please see the table below to see which groups has available space for adult helpers. 

Class/Year group: Scheduled for: Day: Space available?
Year 2 January 2023 - March 2023 Mondays Sessions completed
Year 3 January 2023 - March 2023 Tuesdays Sessions completed
Reception April 2023 - July 2023 Mondays Yes - APPLY NOW
Year 1 April 2023 - July 2023 Tuesdays Yes - APPLY NOW

 

If not enough adults are able to participate at Forest School, sessions will be cancelled which will lead to huge disappointment for the children.

Forest School introduction videos

Please see the Forest School introduction videos below. These videos have been designed to offer an insight to the Forest School programme to both children and adults. These videos are unlisted on YouTube and can only be accessed by visiting the Forest School web page.

Forest School introduction - kids.

Forest School introduction - adults.

Forest School area tour

Wild Wellbeing - Autumn term 2022

Wild Wellbeing 2022

During the 2022 Autumn term, we will be hosting Wild Wellbeing sessions in place of Forest School. These sessions will begin in September 2022 with a participation changeover in the October half-term break. A total of 6 Wild Wellbeing sessions will be offered to selected children in Key Stage 2 across 1 half-term. 

Selected children will be invited to attend these Wild Wellbeing sessions by their class teachers and the Senior Leadership Team. Selected children will be allocated a 1-hour time slot on either Monday or Tuesday afternoons during either Autumn 1 or Autumn 2 half term to receive their Wild Wellbeing sessions. Time slots can be found below. 

Monday sessions - Slot 1 Monday sessions - Slot 2 Tuesday sessions - Slot 1 Tuesday sessions - Slot 2
1.20pm - 2.20pm 2.20pm - 3.20pm 1.20pm - 2.20pm 2.20pm - 3.20pm

 

Selected children will be allocated into a group. As these sessions are still adhering to the Forest School principles and ethos, the strict adult:child ratio will remain at 1:5. As no other adults other than Mr. Milgate will be attending these sessions, each group will have a maximum of 5 children.

The entire Wild Wellbeing operation will be overseen by Mr. Dale Milgate and Mrs. Loretta Baker. Mr Milgate will be responsible for setting up, planning and delivering each Wild Wellbeing session. Mrs. Loretta Baker will be responsible for the administration behind the Wild Wellbeing sessions.

These sessions will be very similar to Forest School as they will allow the participating children to engage in a range of outdoor activities and craft but will allow the participating children to have a more personalised outdoor learning environment due to the group sizes. The Wild Wellbeing sessions will allow for all participants to engage in outdoor activities which encourage the development of their social, physical, emotional, intellectual, communication, emotional and spiritual skills.

Children who are selected to take part in the Wild Wellbeing sessions will receive a letter from the school office outlining their group and session dates. If your child is invited to attend the Wild Wellbeing sessions and you wish to withdraw them, you can opt out of the Wild Wellbeing by speaking to Mrs. Loretta Baker - lbaker@alresford.essex.sch.uk 

Wild Wellbeing Schedule

Please see the document below which details when each group can expect to receive their Wild Wellbeing sessions. As previously eluded to above, the selected children will be allocated a time slot of 1 hour on their Wild Wellbeing day.

Monday sessions - Slot 1 Monday sessions - Slot 2 Tuesday sessions - Slot 1 Tuesday sessions - Slot 2
1.20pm - 2.20pm 2.20pm - 3.20pm 1.20pm - 2.20pm 2.20pm - 3.20pm

 

Our Forest School areas and onsite development

Our Forest School areas

The photos below show the locations used for Forest School activities.

Our onsite Forest School area (photos 1 - 13) is managed and monitored by the Forest School Leader and school caretaker. This area is constantly changing to offer the children more opportunities for holistic growth and development. Our onsite Forest School area features sheltered areas, 2 designated log circles, a designated location for tool and fire use, places for reflection, areas for digging and planting, areas for climbing, a garden area and mature trees.

Our offsite area (photos 14 - 21) is located within Cockaynes Wood Nature Reserve and is managed by Essex Wildlife Trust and Cockaynes Wood Trust. The offsite area features plenty of mature trees, a designated log circle, opportunities for den building, a designated location for tool and fire use, reflection spaces and a vast array of plants and insects to be discovered. This area is not for public use and may only be used the permission from the managing trusts. This area is not owned by Alresford Primary School.

During the duration of the sessions, the children will be able to fully experience the effects of the outdoor environment and experience the changes associated with every season through first hand experiences.

Our Forest School on site area development

Our onsite Forest School area is continuously growing and developing. It is our aim to create a safe and inviting environment for Forest School sessions and activities and also create an outdoor space for learning which can is accessible to the wider school community. Take a look at the photos of our Forest School area below and join us on our journey as we continually update and develop our Forest School area! Check back soon for more development photos!

If you would like to contribute to our on site Forest School area development, please see the document entitled 'donations' above in the 'information for children and parents' section.

What have we have found...

At Forest School, we find lots of really interesting insects and objects! Take a look at the photos below to see what we have found at Forest School!

What have we been up to?

Take a look at the photos below to see what we have been up to at Forest School. Photos from individual Forest School sessions can be found below!

Forest School photos

At Forest School, we adhere to the same photography policy which is currently present at Alresford Primary School. Any child who does not have full parental consent to have their photograph taken and/or shared will not have any photos posted on this web page. If you would like to add/remove your child on/from this page, please speak to the school office or class teacher. Photos will remain on this page for the duration of the term and will be removed at the end of the final session. All photos are taken and handled by the Forest School leader - Mr. Milgate.

Please do not re-share photos from this page.

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