Sarah Blackwell and Paul Moseley
What is the difference between Outdoor Learning and Forest Schools?
In summary...
Forest Schools and Outdoor Learning both come from the same root, that of a desire to engage children in the natural environment whilst learning specified outcomes. The difference and the uniqueness that sets Forest Schools apart from Outdoor learning is the it is focused on the whole child and their development over a long term progression of body, heart and brain in all that makes us human - as opposed to learning a specific adult initiated outcome, as a one off, outdoors. 
Forest Schools
  • Qualified Leaders provide deep learning to engage the whole child
  • Long term over the course of a year to develop new hard wired neuron connections to build resilience and a deep sense of self, including self confidence and self worth
  •  Each session is consecutive and based on the observations and a child's innate desires for learning 
  •  Recognises the uniqueness and brilliance of the individual child and follows their intrinsic motivations by tapping into their own resourcefulness and creativity as catalysts for learning
  • Woodlands provide a singularly unmatched environment to evoke imagination, cultural inheritance and a plethora of loose parts to inspire the child to free play and maximise learning potential 
  •  Develops emotional wealth of a child and others over time; Consciousness, Control, Catalyst, Compassion, Companionship and Community
Outdoor Learning 
  •  Can be run by anyone and has a specific outcome for each session usually designed by the teacher or other adult
  •  Can be done in one lesson and has a finite beginning, middle and end
  •  One off session plan and is not dependent on what has gone before or will happen next
  • Tends to be whole class focused in that there is a desired learning outcome for everyone as opposed to each child
  •  The resources are provided and are not solely dependent on the environment
  •  Time is usually restrictive and the freedom of the child to become divergent on the theme is not possible and can be seen as disobedient, badly behaved or even naughty
  •  The need for loose parts is not required as the session can be provided anywhere from a school yard to a playing field to w small copse. 
  •  Concentrates on the cognitive aspects of learning as a one off ;  knowledge, understand and skills about an external concept
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