Forest School 2023/2024 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.

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.

Reception - Friday P.M (September 2023 - March 2024 schedule)

Year 5 - Monday P.M (October, November, December 2023 schedule)

Year 4 - Monday P.M (January 2024)

Year 3 - Monday P.M (February, March 2024)

Year 2 - Monday P.M (April, May, June 2024)

Year 1 - Monday P.M (June, July 2024)

Reception - Friday P.M *Summer term* (April - July 2024)

Forest School information, polices and documents

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.

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 the school office.

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!

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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