Forest Schools

Curriculum Pressure

We are coming under increasing pressure from the DfE around curriculum hours and many foundation subjects have had statutory minimum hours imposed. A published White Paper includes plans to set a hard minimum on the number of curriculum hours each child receives. Over the course of this year we will be exploring our school day to ensure that we meet these requirements.

Unfortunately, though we place huge value on it, Forest Schools is not part of The National Curriculum. We have therefore had to remove it from our timetable in order to meet statutory curriculum requirements.

However, we are exploring ways in which to offer shorter sessions on a regular basis during lunchtimes, and possibly an after-school club.

Our Forest School Offer

Mr Stokes has begun daily lunchtime sessions at Askrigg this week and we are evaluating how they can be most effectively delivered. During this time, and especially while the weather is reasonable, we do not ask for children to have full Forest School kit in school but, in order to take part, children should have long trousers; sensible, robust footwear (that you don’t mind getting dirty); and a warm/waterproof coat. If your child wishes to have a full kit in school, that would be fine.

Mr Stokes is developing a display board so that the children can see what activities will take place each week so that they can choose which they would like to participate in. At the moment, any child in Golden Eagles or Merlins can attend on any day of the week – every day if they wish!

We will seek your feedback on this provision during parent forum meetings which will be reinstated later this half-term.

Thank you for your understanding.