At Mickley First School we love the outdoors and we are very lucky to be in such a beautiful spot surrounded by nature. We also share the Enchanted Wood with Ovingham First School to give children (and staff!) a change of scenery to explore.

We have several staff who are Forest School trained with more in training too.

At its core, Forest School isn’t just an occasional outdoor lesson—it’s an ongoing, child-led educational process designed to build confidence, independence, and resilience through hands-on experiences in a natural environment.

While traditional classrooms focus heavily on academic outcomes, Forest School focuses on holistic development: social, emotional, physical, and intellectual growth.

Key Objectives & Benefits

• Building Resilience & Self-Esteem: Children are encouraged to take managed, age-appropriate risks—such as climbing trees, using real tools safely, or building fires. Overcoming these challenges builds genuine self-belief.

• Developing Social & Communication Skills: Activities like shelter building or team games require negotiation, sharing, and teamwork, helping children learn how to collaborate outside a structured desk environment.

• Fostering Curiosity & Independence: Unlike standard lessons with set right-or-wrong answers, Forest School lets children lead their own learning based on what catches their interest (e.g., studying bug habitats, creating mud art, or designing simple structures).

• Supporting Emotional Well-Being: Time spent outdoors directly lowers stress levels, increases physical movement, and provides a calming environment—especially beneficial for neurodivergent children or those who struggle with traditional classroom setups.

• Environmental Stewardship: Regular exposure to nature helps kids form a deep, lifelong connection to the natural world and understand how to care for local ecosystems.