Parkend Primary School

The small school with BIG ideas!

Forest Fridays

Forest School is an approach to learning which uses the natural environment as the children’s main teacher. Whilst in the woods our children foster a respect for nature and they develop an understanding of their natural environment through open enquiry and exploration.

It takes the classroom to a new level, brings learning to life and encourages exploration of Maths, Reading and Writing, as well as the wider curriculum in a different form.

The children at Parkend always enjoy their Forest School experiences and develop as a whole child.

Our aim with Forest School is to encourage young people who are free-thinking, who ask questions and who are also pushing their boundaries, all at their own pace. When learners step out of their comfort zone that is where true growth occurs.

Forest School is timetabled for each class every Friday

Picture Gallery 2022-2023

Forest Classroom Gallery Archive

2021-2022

The Y2 children wanted to improve the route down to the log circle so they carried branches to make a definite path way and used natural items to clear fallen leaves. They have been learning how to tie reef knots and how to store ropes safely in preparation for building structures in the future.

Mrs Wright is our Level 1 Forest School Leader

Documents

Outdoor Learning Intent, Implementation and Impact Statement

Trip to Beechenhurst

Hunting for Summer Flowers in the Forest

Drawing in the style of LS Lowry

We're going on a Bug Hunt!

Drawing a local historical building

Using what we found on our forest walk for still life drawing

Lockdown Fun: Key Worker Children learn how to build a snow fort!

Tree planting and Acorns

Schools tree planting newsletter Dec 20.

We planted our acorns and put holly on the top to stop the mice from nibbling.

An integrated part of the Forest Classroom experience is that children will experience the outdoors in all weathers (except high winds and thunder storms). Children should come to school dressed in their forest classroom clothes and will return home in their forest classroom clothes. They do not need to bring their school uniform with them. However, if they do not already have a spare change of clothes in school please provide this as they may get very muddy or wet!

It is paramount that your child is dressed in suitable clothing.

- All children need to wear sensible footwear, ideally wellies or walking boots, that are clearly labelled with your child’s name.
- Children to wear long trousers and socks to protect their legs from scratches and stings.
- During cold and damp weather children should wear a waterproof coat and suitable trousers. The school staff will assess whether they think the children are wearing sufficient layers of warm clothing.

Our recycled items to make bug houses

IT’S EASY TO forget that many schools’ ‘Forest School’ areas lie by necessity within their grounds. How lucky we are that our grounds open up straight into the beautiful and wild Forestry Commission woodland of the Forest of Dean. At Parkend School we truly value our location and get out into nature whenever we can.

THE GAZEBO WITHIN our grounds and the log circle in the woods outside provide two excellent and well-shaded outside classrooms that allow us to get safely hands-on with the natural world and use stimulating exploration to link to many areas of the curriculum. We also have several raised beds and a greenhouse within our enclosed school garden, where children can plant, tend and watch grow various flowers and vegetables throughout the seasons. We also hope to have a wildlife pond within this enclosure soon, allowing our pupils to study even more life cycles at first hand.

Our allotment is taking shape and we have planted, looked after and harvested an assortment of crops this year already. For more information please refer to the allotment section on the website.