Outdoor Curriculum

We are lucky enough to have a dedicated Forest School area at Meridian which children access all year round with our specialist Forest School teacher who has designed a bespoke outdoor curriculum combining outdoor learning opportunities alongside Forest School knowledge and skills.

This bespoke curriculum allows children the opportunity to learn new skills and apply skills from other subjects in an outdoor setting.  Learning outside has proven benefits for everyone and being surrounded by nature supports positive mental health and well-being.  Not only that, but being outside in all weathers and working practically enhances children's resilience, confidence and self-esteem.  And best of all . . . the children love it!

We believe that if children can learn about nature, respecting their environment and how to protect it for the future at school, this will build strong foundations for their understanding of looking after our natural world. 

Our Forest School teacher has developed a comprehensive Outdoor learning curriculum that combines the learning about nature alongside developing Forest School skills.  All of which is underpinned by the Forest School principles:

• Forest School is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning,
  observation, adaptation and review links each session.
• Forest School takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a lifelong relationship
  between the learner and the natural world.
• Forest School uses a range of learner-centred processes to create a community for being, development and learning.
• Forest School aims to promote the holistic development of all involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and
  creative learners.
• Forest School offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.
• Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners, who continuously maintain and develop their professional
  practice

Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 all have weekly Forest School lessons throughout the year.  Years 3 - 6 have longer Forest School lessons blocked into 3 week units across the year.

Children have the opportunity to explore nature first hand, develop their creative skills within a natural setting, as well as learn to cook on an open fire, develop whittling skills and apply map and directional skills through orienteering!