Forest and Beach Schools

“Nature is a tool to get children to experience not just the wider world, but themselves.”

- Stephen Moss

Our Forest and Beach School programme gives children the chance to learn and explore in the great outdoors. Through hands-on activities, teamwork, and play, pupils develop confidence, resilience, and a love for nature. Whether building shelters in the woods or discovering wildlife by the shore, these experiences help children grow in independence while having fun in a safe, supportive environment.

Forest School

At Academy 360 Forest School takes place regularly with the same group of learners over an extended period of time, encompassing the seasons.

Within the grounds of Academy 360 we have a small wooded area where Forest School takes place, providing the learners with space and an environment to explore and discover. The programme’s structure is based upon observation and collaborative work between learners and practitioners.

We aim to foster a relationship with nature through regular personal experiences in order to develop long term environmentally sustainable attitudes and practices in both the learners and wider community. We use natural resources for inspiration and ideas to
encourage and intrinsic motivation. The implementation of Forest school aims to develop where appropriate, the physical, social, cognitive, linguistic, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of the learner. Any Forest School experience follows a risk-benefit process managed by both the teacher and learner that is tailored to the developmental stage of the learner.

Levels of self-esteem are increased by careful and appropriate use of praise and recognition of success. This is possible for all children as tasks are small and achievable. 

Intent

At Academy 360, Forest School is an integral part of our curriculum offer and is designed to support learner wellbeing, engagement and holistic development. It is delivered to consistent groups of pupils over an extended period, allowing relationships, skills and understanding to develop progressively across the seasons.

The programme is particularly effective in meeting the needs of learners with SEND and SEMH, providing a calm, predictable and nurturing environment where pupils feel safe, valued and able to succeed. Through regular, meaningful experiences in nature, we aim to foster a lifelong connection to the natural world and promote environmentally sustainable attitudes and behaviours within our learners and the wider school community. Forest School is underpinned by inclusive values and high aspirations for all pupils, enabling learners to develop confidence, independence, resilience and a positive sense of self.

Implementation

Forest School sessions take place within a designated woodland area on the Academy 360 site, offering a rich and stimulating natural environment that encourages exploration, curiosity and discovery. Sessions are planned and led by trained practitioners who use ongoing observation and reflective practice to respond to individual needs, interests and developmental stages. The programme places strong emphasis on learner voice and collaboration, allowing pupils including those with SEND and SEMH to make choices, take ownership of their learning and build positive relationships with adults and peers. Natural materials and the outdoor environment are used as a stimulus for learning, promoting creativity, problem-solving and intrinsic motivation.

All Forest School sessions operate within a robust risk benefit framework, where appropriate risks are thoughtfully managed and discussed with learners. This supports pupils to develop an age-appropriate understanding of risk, strengthen decision-making skills and build resilience while ensuring safeguarding and welfare remain paramount. Tasks and activities are carefully scaffolded and adapted to ensure they are accessible and achievable for all learners, including those with additional needs, enabling every pupil to participate meaningfully and experience success.

Impact

Forest School has a positive impact on learners’ confidence, self-esteem and emotional regulation, particularly for pupils with SEND and SEMH who may struggle within more traditional classroom settings. Regular participation supports improvements in communication, cooperation, physical development and emotional wellbeing. Learners demonstrate increased independence, engagement and perseverance, alongside a growing respect for the natural environment and others around them. Careful and purposeful use of praise and recognition ensures that all pupils see themselves as capable and successful, reinforcing positive behaviours for learning. Over time, Forest School contributes to improved readiness to learn, stronger relationships, and enhanced wellbeing, enabling pupils to access learning across the wider curriculum more successfully.

Beach School

At Academy 360, it is our intent that forest school and beach school sessions place significant emphasis on holistic development and, as with the principles and overall benefits of learning, have significant benefits on personal and social wellbeing, as well as providing incredible learning opportunities using minimal resources.

We are lucky to have three main coastlines so close to our school, whereby children are encouraged to explore the natural environment
with its constantly changing appearance, offerings, and potential learning experiences and opportunities. Children are engaged and can see the positive impact that they can make on their environment, they become more motivated, as well as making them more aware of their surroundings.

Beach School is a great way to help children become more aware of citizenship and how their close surroundings are regularly available. The main principles include supporting subject knowledge and curriculum development, risk benefit management, developing engagement on the coast. Beach school is flexible, accommodating the differing ways in which children learn with appropriate pedagogy styles, and are based on observing individuals and following the dynamics of the group.

Intent

At Academy 360, Beach School is an integral part of our curriculum offer and places a strong emphasis on holistic development, personal wellbeing and meaningful engagement with learning. Beach School is designed to support all learners, with particular benefit for vulnerable pupils, including those with SEND and SEMH, by providing a nurturing, flexible and inclusive learning environment beyond the classroom. Through regular experiences on the coastline, we aim to develop learners’ confidence, resilience, self-esteem and sense of belonging, while fostering a strong connection to their local environment. Beach School supports pupils to become motivated, environmentally aware and responsible citizens using real-world experiences to enhance learning with minimal resources.

Implementation

Academy 360 benefits from close proximity to three main coastlines, allowing learners to access Beach School sessions within a dynamic and ever-changing natural environment. This provides rich opportunities for exploration, investigation and experiential learning, which are particularly effective for re-engaging vulnerable learners who may find traditional classroom settings challenging. Sessions are planned and delivered by skilled practitioners who use observation and ongoing assessment to respond to the needs, interests and emotional readiness of individuals and the group. Beach School pedagogy is intentionally flexible, accommodating different learning styles and supporting pupils with SEND and SEMH through sensory-rich, practical and collaborative experiences. Learners are actively encouraged to explore their surroundings, understand the impact of their actions on the environment and take responsibility for caring for the coastline. Beach School also promotes learning about citizenship, community and environmental stewardship, helping pupils to recognise that their local environment is a valuable and accessible learning resource.

All Beach School sessions operate within a clear risk–benefit management framework, enabling pupils to experience appropriate challenge, develop decision-making skills and build resilience, while ensuring that safeguarding and wellbeing remain paramount.

Impact

Beach School has a clear and positive impact on learners’ engagement, emotional regulation and confidence, particularly for vulnerable pupils and those with SEND and SEMH. Regular participation supports improvements in communication, cooperation, problem-solving and independence, enabling pupils to experience success in ways that are meaningful to them. Learners become more motivated, reflective and aware of their environment, demonstrating increased respect for nature, others and themselves. Over time, Beach School contributes to improved attitudes to learning, enhanced wellbeing and increased readiness to access and succeed within the wider curriculum.

Wild Passport

Staff are trained in the Wild Passport framework, which is used to provide clear intent and structure for Forest School provision. Practitioners use the framework to plan progressive learning experiences while maintaining flexibility to respond to children’s interests, the changing seasons and daily weather conditions. This blended approach ensures learning is purposeful and well sequenced, while remaining child centred and responsive. Staff use ongoing observation and assessment to adapt sessions in the moment, ensuring all children are supported to engage, develop independence, and build skills over time within a safe and nurturing outdoor environment. 

Skills Builder

We use the Skills Builder framework to explicitly develop transferable skills across both Forest School and Beach School provision. Staff draw on the Skills Builder skill icons to identify, model and name key skills such as teamwork, communication, problemsolving and resilience within outdoor learning experiences. These skills are intentionally woven into planning and delivery, while remaining responsive to children’s interests, environmental conditions and seasonal opportunities. Practitioners use purposeful questioning, observation and reflection to support skill development in reallife contexts, helping children to apply and strengthen these skills over time. This approach supports progression, raises children’s awareness of their learning, and contributes positively to outcomes across the wider curriculum.