Background to forest school

1. Outline Curriculum Proposal for Level One: Forest Schools Skills AwardColeg Sir Gar, Ammanford

2. Background to forest school • Originated in Sweden in the 1950s • Brought to UK in the 1995 by Bridgewater college

3. Rationale Forest Schools offer children, young people and adults the opportunity to discover how to achieve, how to grow in confidence and how to develop self esteem by hands-on learning experiences in local forests and woodlands. (Video clip from Forest Schools website)

4. Forest School Course • Entry Level: Forest Schools Entry Level • Level One: Forest Schools Skills Award • Level Two: Assistant Forest Schools Practitioners Award

5. Bilingual training for any adult who works with children and young people . • Practitioner from within childcare / Educational settings • Little or no experience of working in the outdoors • Will Offer knowledge and confidence in the safe use of equipment The course will allow participants to look at using the outdoor environment as a tool to facilitate different learning styles • develop personal skills such as confidence and self-esteem. • practical activities that can be carried out with children and young adults. • Colegsirgar- widening participation and strengthening links and working partnerships within the community and surrounding areas.

6. Geographical Location for the Course Coleg Sir Gar Campus: Ammanford, Carmarthenshire

7. Catchment Area Coleg Sir Gar, Ammanford Campus

8. The Proposal • Carmarthenshire LEA State Primary Schools: 123   State Secondary Schools: 15    State Schools Overall:138 • Swansea LEA State Primary Schools: 91    State Secondary Schools: 16 State Schools Overall: 107 • Ceredigion LEA State Primary Schools: 65    State Secondary Schools: 7    State Schools Overall:72 • Neath LEA State Primary Schools: 73   State Secondary Schools: 15 State Schools Overall: 88 • Family centres • Day Nurseries • MudiadysgolionMeithrin • PPA • Voluntary organisations • SEN centres • SEN schools • Communities first areas • Sure Start organisations

9. How the Level 1 Forest School Course fits in with Coleg Sir Gar • Geographical location • Demography – catchment area map? • How we or CSG can adapt existing space to suit Forest School ethos (making paths, making safe – fencing off to make secure etc)

10. Aims and Objectives of the Course • Self Awareness • Self Regulation • Intrinsic motivation • Empathy • Good social communication skills • Independence • A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence

11. Key Factors impacting on Curriculum Design • Steep Analysis

12. Entry Requirements • Students will need previous experience of working with children but need have little or no experience of working in the outdoors Validation • Validated Leader to provide copy of certificate to awarding body (OCR)

13. Information for Students • Course Venue, Duration and Timing • Coleg Sir Gar, Ammanford Campus • 3 consecutive days • 9am – 3.30pm

14. Funding • ColegauCymru • Students will pay £200 per 3 day course • No registration fee unless late enrolment

15. Course Content: Day 1 9.00 – 12.30hrs • Introduction in the classroom: • Registration • Orientation /Induction Session for students to Coleg Sir Gar • Introduce the Aims and Objectives for the Course • Introducing Health and Safety principles in the Forest • The First Aid Kit. • 13.30 – 15.30 hrs • Developing Teamwork in the Forest

16. Course Content: Day 2 • 9.00 – 12.30hrs • 13.30 – 15.30 hrs

17. Course Content: Day 3 • 9.00 – 12.30hrs • 13.30 – 15.30 hrs

18. Assessment • Planning a suitable session in the forest appropriate to individual student’s area of interest or employment • Reflective Journal of 1,500 words to be handed in 2 weeks after completion of course

19. Evaluation and Feedback Procedures

20. Costings

21. Marketing • Local newspaper based advertisements • Flyers • Written information sent to local primary schools and interested parties • Example of a flyer

22. Further Development