Hi Nick, It is my understanding with regard to the Heath land where the school is that the school were given permission last year by WPCC to use a piece of land quite near the school for Forest School activity, subject to various conditions, of course. It is very helpful as it would be impossible to introduce this learning approach to the curriculum without it. As you may know Forest School benefits all learners but can be particularly beneficial to children who find a traditional classroom environment challenging, as a result of SEN, behavioural or language difficulties and RCS has high percentages of pupils in these groups. School budgets don’t provide sufficient assistance to these disadvantaged children and Forest School is a more cost-effective way to help them. Forest Schools are mostly in the independent sector because of the cost but the governors are trying to raise the funds for this – it will be a rare opportunity to offer disadvantaged children the significant benefits of Forest School within the state funded educational sector.
Ted White ● 594d