Over the past sixteen weeks, our Junior Infants have journeyed through the seasons and grown into confident Senior Infants, learning and discovering through the magic of Forest School. Each session has been an opportunity to connect with nature, develop essential life skills, and nurture curiosity — all in the ever-changing outdoor classroom that the forest provides.
Our focus has been on native plants and mammals, helping the children build a sense of place and belonging in the natural world around them. We learned to recognise familiar species — from sticky cleavers to wildflowers like buttercups and dandelions. The children loved learning how to identify plants by their leaves, flowers, and seeds, and we talked about how these plants provide food and shelter for many woodland animals. Through our study of native mammals we explored signs of foxes, badgers, woodmice, pine martens, hedgehogs, squirrels and bats. Children began to notice footprints, nibbled nuts, and hidden paths — clues that told the stories of the animals who share the forest with us.
Alongside these discoveries, Forest School offered rich opportunities for social, emotional, and physical development. Each session encouraged cooperation, communication, and empathy — whether through building shelters together, helping a friend move a log, or celebrating someone’s discovery. We saw growing confidence and independence as children made choices, took supported risks, and learned to care for themselves, one another, and the environment. Balancing on logs, climbing safely, carrying sticks, and moving over uneven ground all helped build strength, coordination, and resilience.
These experiences are deeply connected to the core principles of Forest School: regular sessions in a natural setting, child-led learning, holistic development, and respect for the natural world. The children’s interests guided each week — one group might focus on creating woodland art, another might explore insect habitats or follow animal tracks. This flexibility ensured that every child could engage at their own level and follow their curiosity in meaningful ways.
The Forest School sessions link fully with the primary curriculum. In Science, the children explored living things, life cycles, and habitats. In Geography, they developed an understanding of place, weather, and seasonal changes. SPHE (Social, Personal and Health Education) was woven throughout — fostering self-awareness, cooperation, and emotional regulation — while Physical Education came naturally through outdoor movement and play. Creative elements from Visual Arts and Language were ever-present too, as children used drawing, storytelling, and descriptive language to record and share their discoveries.
Looking back, it’s remarkable to see how much growth has taken place — not just in knowledge and skills, but in confidence, connection, and joy. What began as a curious exploration in Junior Infants has blossomed into a deeper understanding of the living world and a stronger sense of community among the children. Forest School has given them the time, space, and freedom to learn through experience — and, in doing so, we hope lays the roots for lifelong curiosity and care for nature.