Forest School at Cherry Burton Primary

At Cherry Burton Primary School, we are passionate about giving every child meaningful opportunities to learn through exploration, discovery, and play in the natural world. Our Forest School program, led by our fantastic Forest School and Outdoor Learning Lead, Mrs Rumble, helps children develop a deep connection with nature while building important life skills.

Children in Ducklings, Reception, and Key Stage 1 take part in weekly Forest School sessions, using our wonderful outdoor spaces to learn, play, and grow. In Key Stage 2, we have carefully aligned elements of our curriculum to include opportunities for pupils to continue learning outdoors — through science investigations, geography fieldwork, environmental projects, and creative outdoor challenges that build on their earlier Forest School experiences.

Forest School is about so much more than time outside – it’s an approach that nurtures the whole child. Through hands-on experiences such as den building, nature art, tool use, and wildlife exploration, children develop:

* Resilience and independence
* Teamwork and communication
* Curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving

* A sense of wonder and respect for the environment

Outdoor learning supports children’s physical and mental wellbeing, strengthens language and social development, and provides powerful, real-world contexts for learning. It also encourages reflection, awe, and a sense of spirituality, giving children the time and space to notice the beauty, patterns, and rhythms of the natural world, and to consider their place within it. Research shows that regular time outdoors helps children to think deeply, make connections, and remember more – all while having fun and developing confidence in who they are.

At Cherry Burton, we believe that learning doesn’t just happen within classroom walls. Our Forest School sessions help our youngest learners to flourish – developing knowledge, character, and a lifelong love of the natural world.