Experience of being a Forest School Parent Volunteer

 I was able to volunteer to be the Forest School Helper for Year 2 Swans over Term 3. I really enjoyed it and thought I might jot down a little bit about what went on, in case it was interesting to other parents. I pulled on some extra layers, bobble hat and wellies for each Monday session and got to spend a great 2 hours with the children. It was so lovely to watch the children play in the mud kitchen, climb trees and muddy slopes, dig holes and work together to recreate a fire pit (their imaginative play was great to see). Forest Schools offer such a wonderful opportunity for children to engage with nature. This feels so especially important now, after the last two years. We spotted ducks & robins, made bird feeders, found red kite feathers and their happiness & confidence shone throughout it. It was a great mix of open-ended play and bush craft learning. I was impressed by the skills offered, like doing some whittling. And learnt that bow and arrows are now used by Hawkeye, rather than Robin Hood, as in my day!

With perfect timing, I was helping on “Blue Monday” - and what a perfect antidote it was! To be out in the fresh air, in the woods, spotting the first daffodils shoots, digging worms for robins, making tree guardians out of clay and learning that Dog Mercury can signify ancient woodland! The children know not to eat berries, nuts or mushrooms they might find; they were annoyed by litter that has been thrown into the site (and keen to pick it up!) and looked out for each other during the sessions. It felt like such great life lessons, on how to care for and enjoy the countryside, while respecting it too.

Forest School is such a great learning experience. For me as well! I am so pleased that Cholsey Primary includes in their teaching – and not just for Foundation, but up to Year 2. You can see the value of it in the children’s behaviour, their happiness and interaction. The importance of access to green space on mental wellbeing is increasingly acknowledged and it is so wonderful that our children have such a great space to explore right here at school.

Marie-Louise Kerr