Keeping Safe in the Woods
The safety of your child is our absolute priority. While Forest School encourages children to take risks—like climbing trees or using tools—these activities are carefully managed, supervised, and risk-assessed.
We operate under a strict "Risk Benefit" philosophy: we believe the benefits of an activity (resilience, confidence, physical skill) often outweigh the risks, provided those risks are managed correctly.
Qualified Leaders: Every session is led by a Level 3 qualified Forest School Leader.
Staff Ratios: There is always at least one fully trained Leader and a First Aid trained support adult present. We maintain constant communication with the main school office via walkie-talkie.
Site Checks: A "Daily Site Risk Assessment" is performed before every session to check for hazards like fallen branches or litter.
We teach children to manage their own safety. Rather than simply saying "no," we teach them how to climb a tree safely, or how to move around a fire circle without danger. This empowers them to make safe choices.
Tool Use: Tools (such as bow saws or peelers) are introduced gradually. They are used on a strict 1:1 ratio (one child to one adult) or in small, supervised groups depending on competence.
Fire Safety: Fires are only lit in our designated fire circle. Children are taught to respect the fire, how to approach it safely (the "Respect Position"), and are supervised at all times.
Our leaders hold specific Forest School First Aid and Paediatric First Aid qualifications. They are also trained in managing Type 1 Diabetes and Anaphylaxis.
Allergies: We are a nut-free school. Any food used in sessions (like our campfire marshmallows) is checked for allergens. We use Dandies plant-based marshmallows which are gluten-free and vegan.
Medication: Please ensure the school office has up-to-date details of your child's medical needs. Inhalers and EpiPens must be in school and in date.
Proper clothing is a safety requirement, not just a uniform rule.
Cover Up: Long sleeves and trousers protect against scratches, stings, and ticks (which can carry Lyme Disease).
Footwear: Sturdy boots protect ankles on uneven ground. No handles on wellies—these are a trip hazard in the woods.
The Forest School is a place of freedom, but it has boundaries. We follow the school's behaviour policy. Any child whose behaviour poses a risk to themselves or others (especially around tools or fire) will be removed from that activity until they are ready to participate safely.
"Play brings the world to life for children... it exposes them to the realities of the world in which they will live, which is a world not free from risk but rather one where risk is ever present." — Health & Safety Executive (HSE)