Unwrapping the Cotton Wool Kids in North Lanarkshire

Long term investment to reap rewards

for our youngest children

• 2004-7 NOF –Access, Fencing,

Storage. 45 Settings-3,000 children. Ongoing funded programme.

• 2005- Forest School Awareness Raising

• 2005-7 – N.O.F.-Living Classroom-coaching in context 107 settings. Nurseries, Childminders, Drop in Centres.

• 2005-January Conference-Mindstretchers Palacerigg Country Park. (first of many!)

• 2005-Lets Get Out - 3 year Project. Resources, training and conferences. (Mindstretchers, Grounds for Learning)

`Lets Get Out’ Next Steps

• NLC Forest Kindergarten• Outdoor Champions• Using Lanarkshire` s

Industrial Heritage-Summerlee

• Using a Forest School approach to outings-DVD

• Risk Assessments• Clothing for staff and

children• Audit and DVD

Where We Are Now 2012 -13

• Investment Settings-Access to Natural Environments.

• Outdoor specification for new settings.

• Benefit Risk Assessments• Peer Support and

Collaboration-CFE Group Education Scotland

• Outdoor Food Hygiene & First Aid

• Disseminate Research• DVD `If You Go Down To

The Woods’

• Outdoors Blog-`Lets Get Out`• CPD Central Glow• Teaching in Nature-SNH• Forest Kindergarten Training-

Forestry Commission• Forest School Cluster FEI• `More Than` Outdoor Shelters• Learning Rounds-Global

Citizenship.• Birth to Three Training• Brilliance of a Boulder and

Terrific Tree Trunks training.

Developing Forest Kindergartens

• One Day Taster Sessions

• Three Day Course

• Supplementary Courses

• Level Three Forest School Leader

We will continue our journey by……

Sustaining and developing partnerships based on mutual respect, shared goals

and a commitment to increasing opportunities for children to embrace risk

and challenge and become confident individuals, successful learners,

responsible citizens and effective contributors.

And all of this helps in…………

Unwrapping the Cotton Wool Kids in North Lanarkshire!

Forest School

Forest School – A school in the forest ?

Forest School Outcomes

Confidence

Social Skills

Language &

Communication

Motivation &

Concentration

Physical skills

Knowledge & Understanding

New Perspectives Ripple Effects

Motivation and Concentration

It was brilliant, I got to use a saw…by myself to cut wood for the den.

Knowledge and Understanding

A picture of my proudest

achievement

New Perspectives

Ripple Effects

TRAINING

• Level 1 – Introduction to Forest School

• Level 2 – Forest School Assistants Award

• Level 3 – Forest School Practitioners Award

Level 1 – Introduction to Forest School

• 2 days training (Module 1), complete workbook

• Observe Forest School Session

• Write up Observations

• Target – Management, occasional helpers

Level 2 – Assistants Award

• 4 days training (Module 1 & 2)• Assist on 3 sessions• 2 workbooks and essay based question to

complete• Entry requirements:-

– Over 18

– Experience of working with client group

Level 3 – Practitioners Award

• 9 days training (modules 1-5) plus• 2 day first aid in the outdoors• Deliver 6 sessions• Complete coursework portfolio (minimum of 110 hours

of self study – 3 workbooks, handbook & essay based questions)

• Entry Requirements– Over 21

– Relevant qualification for client group

– Be leading group activities with client group