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The Curriculum and Forest School

A Forest School curriculum has be carefully devised for Key Stage One (Year One and Two), Key Stage Two (Year Three, Four, Five and Six) pupils, and for pupils within the Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception). The curriculum for key stage one and two pupils is based around the National Curriculum, focusing on science, geography and design and technology. The curriculum for the early years is based around the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Wanderlust Nature Study Programme. At the heart of both curriculums is Heartwoods own 'making a difference: a memorable curriculum'; At Heartwood we care about the Swaffham community, our country, the world around us and the people and animals that live within it.

We acknowledge at Heartwood that forest school is uniquely positioned to support the development of enquiring minds and positive learning attitudes.

Science and Forest School

Forest School has strong cross - curricular links with science. When planning themes for the sessions, they often link with the science curriculum and those links are clear. The environment lends itself to exploring seasonal change, using and discovering the properties of materials, plants, habitats, birds and animals and much more! 

We have been busy exploring and making a habitat for our frog spawn and tadpoles in the forest. We researched what the frog spawn and tadpoles need in order to survive; light, warmth and food. This hands-on learning experience has provoked many wonderful discussions, using key vocabulary such as; habitat, life cycles, frog spawn, tadpole, froglet, frog, amphibians, herbivore, carnivore, algae, predators. 

Geography and Forest School

Forest School has strong cross-curricular links with geography also. In Heartwood forest we inspire children's curiosity and fascination with the natural world and this will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Each child is able to experience the seasons and weather patterns for themselves, accessing Heartwood forest throughout the year and in all weathers, except in high winds, of course!

We have been busy building upon and learning new geographical skills in Heartwood Forest. We have been drawing maps of our forest area, using compasses, learning compass points, using directional language to navigate our way around the forest and measurements.   

Design and Technology and Forest School

Forest School has strong cross-curricular links with design and technology. Within forest school we use our creativity and imagination to design and solve real and relevant problems. We use an open fire to cook, learning where our food comes from and about foraging. We use hand tools to whittle wood found in our forest, creating our own designs.  

Andy Goldsworthy is a British sculptor, photographer and environmentalist. His works inspires us to be creative, constructing sculptures. We are artists, using natural materials found in Heartwood Forest.

'We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we have have lost our connection to ourselves'