Dear Parents and Carers

We are pleased to announce that Forest School is returning to The Ridge w/c 27th September 2021. Forest School is about discovering and developing life skills through a holistic approach to enhancing children’s learning in the natural environment. Benefits include increasing self-esteem, independence, risk taking and physical activity. We are delighted to be developing our outdoor area to create a setting, which allows the children to explore their environment, develop their knowledge and skills whilst developing a long-term relationship with the natural world.

Peter Yates, a fully qualified forest school leader from ‘Simply Forest School’, will lead our forest school sessions. The environment and all activities are fully risk assessed and sessions will be carried out with regard to our Covid Risk Assessment. During the programme, the children may be working with various tools such as saws and making fires. This will be under strict supervision with only one child working at one time. The children will have a drink during the session and a snack. Please contact school if your child has any allergies that we need to be aware of.

Forest School runs in all weathers (if safe to do so) and the children will be expected to take part in all sessions. Children must come to school in clothes that parents are happy for them to get dirty. There are brambles and nettles on site so it very important that the children have long sleeve tops and trousers (no shorts). If rain is forecast, then please provide your child with a waterproof coat and if possible, waterproof trousers too.

Year 4 and Year 5 will be going to Forest school on the following dates:

· Tuesday 28th September

· Tuesday 5th October

· Tuesday 12th October

· Tuesday 19th October

· Tuesday 2nd November

· Tuesday 9th November

We recognise that the pandemic has limited some of the 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 confident that the children will enjoy the experience and gain a lot from it.

Please don’t hesitate to contact school if you have any queries.

Yours sincerely

Mrs D Hudson
Headteacher