Forest School

Forest school is a magical place that transforms nature into a vibrant, limitless classroom where children take the lead in their own learning.  Here at Bournville Village, we are very proud to be able to offer our children a fantastic Forest School experience within our own school grounds.

Forest School has been shown to have a plethora of benefits on children’s development. Below are some reasons why we believe that Forest School is so beneficial for our children:

• Unleashing Natural Curiosity: Without the constraints of four walls, children are free to explore at their own pace. Discovering a new bug, listening to the wind in the trees, or tracking seasonal changes stimulates all the senses and naturally encourages critical thinking.
• Building Resilience and Self-Esteem: Forest school embraces manageable, healthy risks. Whether it is learning how to safely whittle a stick, climb a sturdy tree, or recover from a muddy slip, children learn to assess and negotiate risk themselves. Overcoming these physical and mental challenges builds incredible self-confidence.
• Therapeutic Emotional Space: The outdoors is naturally therapeutic. The calming environment reduces stress and anxiety whilst creating an environment where every child can flourish regardless of their academic abilities in a traditional classroom.
• Deep Environmental Stewardship: Immersing children in the woods nurtures a deep love and respect for nature.
• Hands-On Learning: By children using tools in a safe environment, they will develop more practical and fine motor skills.
• Links to classroom learning: Forest School sessions bring many of the topics covered in the National Curriculum to life.

Explore. Learn. Grow. Naturally.

Nestled within our school's beautiful natural surroundings, our Forest School provision offers a unique and inspiring outdoor learning environment for our children

Our site includes:

• A secure, purpose-designed woodland area

• Fire circle 

• Tool-use space for supervised activities

• Mud kitchen and climbing frame

• Rectangular planters for growing flowers and vegetables. 

Forest School sessions run slightly differently to traditional classroom learning. During Forest School sessions, the children have more freedom and choice to engage in activities that appeal to them. However, some of the activities that might be facilitated for the children are as follows:

• Building dens and other structures to enrich their games and imaginative play.
• Fires and cooking.
• Making crafts using natural materials.
• Using tools, such as drills or saws.
• Scavenger hunts and adventure.
• Team games.
• Seasonal activities.
• Storytelling, using the natural world to enable stories to come to life

We believe that play forms an essential part of children’s development. Play can be defined as “any behaviour, activity or process initiated, controlled and structured by children themselves”. Play is a process through which children become deeply engaged with their own activities and ideas. Bob Hughes outlined 16 different play types which we aim to incorporate within our Forest School sessions.

Hi, I’m Kaiser and I joined the Bournville Village Primary team in September 2025. One of my roles here is to manage classrooms during the short-term absence of the class teacher and covering teachers' planning time. I love the variety of my role and the opportunity to build rapport with children and staff across our entire school. Alongside my teaching role, I plan and lead Forest School sessions for Early Years children on Fridays.

I have always loved the wonder, calmness and freedom of the outdoors. Growing up in the 90s, my fondest childhood memories were always outdoor activities such as the long bicycle rides, playing outdoor games and exploring different parks and woods.

During my Forest School sessions, my aim is to facilitate activities that allow the children to freely express themselves and develop skills such as creativity, problem-solving and teamwork.

It is my hope that through these sessions the children develop a sense of love and care for the natural world such that they learn to make pro-environmental choices, paving a way for a sustainable future

Interested in booking or learning more?
Contact us to discuss availability, rates, and how we can tailor the space to suit your group's needs.

Contact us for further information at 0121 675 9098 or via lettings@bournvillevillageprimary.org.uk