Can you Help Us ?

 One Off Working Party to Develop our Forest School Area

  Monday 19^th April 2021

Dear Parents and Carers

We are pleased to announce that Forest School is starting at The Ridge after Easter. Forest School is about children discovering and developing life skills through a holistic approach to enhancing their learning in the natural environment. Benefits include increasing self-esteem, independence, risk taking and physical activity. Whilst initially Years 1 and 2 will be going to forest school, we hope to offer sessions to all year groups in school over the course of the next year.

Peter Yates, a fully qualified forest school leader from ‘Simply Forest School’, will lead our Forest School, however we would value some help in getting the wooded area ready for the children to use.

We are looking for some volunteers to help Peter on Monday 19^th April. This will involve clearing some of the area, pruning back vegetation and helping to construct a simple seating area and fire pit. Peter can provide loppers and secateurs (although bringing your own wouldn’t hurt!) and, as there are brambles and nettles to remove, sturdy gloves are a must. Long sleeve tops and trousers are also advised.

We will need to work in a Covid secure way and observe the rule of six.

If you think that you can give us a few hours on this day, please contact us by emailing: info@ridge.dudley.sch.uk

We are also looking for donations of wooden pallets, logs and branches pruned from trees (especially those that are Y-shaped which are brilliant for den building). Again, please contact us if you can help with any of these.

We recognise that the pandemic has limited some of the enhancement opportunities that we have been able to offer the children, so we are extremely grateful to Ridge Friends who have kindly agreed to fund these sessions. We are excited to be developing our school site in this way and are confident that the children will enjoy the forest school experience and gain a lot from it. 

Yours sincerely

Mrs D Hudson

Headteacher