Welcome to
The Practical Forest School
We provide forest school programmes and events to schools as well as independent afterschool clubs and birthday parties in and around Horsham, West Sussex.
We believe in the power of being outdoors. We believe that children should be free to play because play is learning. We believe that a stick can be anything, and that life skills like risk taking can be developed in a child-led environment.
We offer both forest school sessions and curriculum-led outdoor learning where children can get away from their desks. Let’s bring the National Curriculum to life and help kids understand their natural world.
We love the lightbulb moments when a child suddenly realises they can light a fire, or jump a stream, or walk a slackline… when they’re proud of the stick man, the carving, the leaf art that they’ve made.
We can bring those experiences to your school, either through curriculum-based sessions (think: meteorology, the natural world, habitats, history, science, biology) or through child-led free play sessions through afterschool clubs.
Afterschool Clubs
Our blog
Find out what’s happening in the forest school world, get ideas for outdoor activities to use with your own groups, download printables and learning resources and follow along with our journey as we create outdoor learning experiences for children in Sussex!
Forest School Kit List: What you actually need
Discover the essential equipment needed for forest school, from clothing and footwear to safety gear and nature exploration supplies. Get ready to start your outdoor education journey!
Unlock the Power of Forest School Problem Solving Activities
Unlock the power of forest school problem solving activities to engage and inspire your students. Learn how to prepare, facilitate, and assess learning outcomes from these activities.
What activities can you do in forest school?
Wondering what activities your child will be up to at forest school, or looking for some ideas for your own setting? Here are 15 popular activities that you can expect a forest school to offer, or that you can offer in your own forest school. #1 Nature Scavenger Hunt A nature scavenger hunt is a…
Exploring Different Types of Shelter for Forest School
Discover the different types of shelter for forest school, from tarp shelters to dens and wooden constructed shelters. Learn about safety considerations and creative ideas to enhance your forest school experience.
Pond Dipping: The Simple How To Guide
Some of my earliest memories with wildlife were at the local nature reserves, armed with a green net and an ice cream tub, fishing for whatever we could skim from the pond. Pond dipping is a simple activity that can help foster a love of the outdoors and nature. We’ve yet to meet children who…
7 Easy Forest School Activities for Summer
This article contains affiliate links at no cost to you. Thanks for supporting our work! If you’re looking for easy Forest School Activities for Summer, you’ve come to the right place! You’ll find easy ideas for bug hotels, flower crowns, and more! We’ve curated some of our favourite ways to engage children during forest school…