‘IT’S just so much fun.’
Youngsters at Whittington Moor Nursery and Infant Academy are exploring their brand-new Forest School provision. Tucked away at the back of school – which is part of the Cavendish Learning Trust – is a vast green area sheltered by trees. Dotted around are picnic benches for youngsters to sit on, a giant sandpit and climbing frame.
There is a designated ‘storytelling area’ – complete with wooden throne and cute seating – a mud kitchen for getting creative, ‘water wall’, a huge swing and wildlife observation area for pupils to seek out local visitors to the area. There is an area, too, where youngsters are encouraged to make dens.
Every area of the Forest School is accessible for wheelchair users, too, with the pathway running throughout made of a special cushioned rubber to offer protection from any slips and falls.
“We are absolutely delighted with our new outdoor area,” said headteacher Lauren Kay, “it’s been an ambitious project, funded by the Cavendish Learning Trust, and we’re thrilled with the results.
“Each class – from our nursery school pupils right through to infants – will have the opportunity to enjoy the Forest School.
“It’s a calm oasis in our busy school and we’re finding that being outdoors helps the children to regulate their feelings and emotions. The world we live in is fast-paced, exciting and challenging and our young people need different skills to thrive than previous generations.
“Members of staff, too, have been enjoying getting outdoors and breathing in the fresh air. Being outdoors has so many health benefits and we’re lucky to have the provision.”
Children are provided with all-in-one suits to keep their uniform clean, and the school also ensures that pupils have suitable footwear.
“We have a store with lots of wellies, but we could always do with more!” added Miss Kay, who has also issued a plea for local businesses to help restore an old sun dial that currently sits in the centre of the Forest School.
Whittington Moor Nursery and Infant Academy has been an officially accredited Forest School since 2021, meaning that time using the outdoor provision is included in the school’s curriculum.
Research suggests that outdoor learning boosts confidence, social skills, communication, motivation, physical skills and independence. It helps with the ability to work cooperatively, too.
“There are so many advantages to having an on-site Forest School,” added Miss Kay, “and we have exciting plans for our outdoor area.
“As well as having a Forest School, we have also painted traditional games such as hopscotch on the playground floor over the summer, and our ‘road’ that children can enjoy riding their bikes on is always popular.”
Inside the school, which has 89 pupils on roll, are four classrooms and a home-from-home nurture room – formerly an unused classroom – where the Nurture sessions take place.
Complete with an upcycled dining table, where children are encouraged to share positive news, house plants and informal seating, the purpose of the nurture room – called The Saplings – is to support the development of the Social and Emotional aspects of the curriculum.
Parents and members of the local community are also invited in to use the facilities, too, and the school prides itself on supporting families in the Chesterfield area.
“We pride ourselves on the fact that we know all of our children – and their families – and we enrol toddlers from the age of two upwards at our school.
“We have close links with our community, especially the church next door. We’ll be visiting them several times over the next few months as we celebrate Harvest Festival, Christmas and Easter.
“We want to ensure that the school experience for our children is a magical time, and I think we’re doing a pretty good job of that.”
ENDS
For further information – and to see how we can help raise the profile of your school, charity or business – contact Kerry Ganly at Penguin PR on 07734 723951 or email kerry@penguinpr.co.uk
