Forest School has been described in various ways: 

Forest School is primarily about developing caring relationships with myself, with others and with the natural world through spending extended periods of time in nature. 

It is an ethos or a way of being that values all learners as equal, unique and valuable; as competent to make decisions and as able to make choices and to initiate and to drive their own learning and development. Forest School must enable all participants to experience regular success and appropriate risk and challenge. 

All six principles must be operating together in order that we can call what we are doing Forest School.

“A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to outdoor play and learning. Forest Schools has demonstrated success with children of all ages who visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis and through play, who have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. Forest School programmes run throughout the year, for about 36 weeks, going to the woods in all weathers (except for high winds). Children use full sized tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence, self-esteem and become self-motivated.”   (Sarah Blackwell, FSE)