An Evaluation of The North Cambridge Children’s Centre Creative Forest Schools Programme Summer Term 2008
Developing creative learning opportunities for children, parents and educators
Forest School initiatives began in Britain in the 1990and is defined by the Forest School England Network as‘’An inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults regular opportunities to achieve, and develop confidence and self esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland environment”.
Forest School Initiative (2005)
It is based on the Scandinavian notion of the importance of children having regular contact with nature. Developed in the 1950’s, Forest Schools in Denmark and Sweden centred their teaching on the natural world. There are an increasing number of Forest Schools developing in the UK, some through the Forestry Commission, some privately, others through support from local authorities.
The North Cambridge Children’s Centre Forest School at Milton Country Park is a project committed to offering these opportunities to children and parents from an economically disadvantaged area in the north of Cambridge. The project began in the autumn term of 2007, set up with the support of the newly retired ex-headteacher.
With the support of a grant (£2,000) from Cambridge City Council, the project was extended to involve a creative practitioner from Cambridge Curiosity and Imagination (CCI) in the summer of 2008, who worked alongside the educators, children and parents to introduce and develop the creative learning opportunities. CCI have a successful track record both in developing the creative practice of educators and of working alongside families, encouraging parents and children to work and play collaboratively using natural, every-day and low-tech materials.
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