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L-R: Doncaster College's Nina Garner, Janet Packer and Kathryn
Dixon at High Melton
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Wood You Believe It?
Doncaster College is to implement a
Forest School which will see youngsters and adults engaging in
outdoor classrooms.
It is hoped the school, based at the College’s
High Melton campus, will create a unique learning experience
encompassing the broadest spectrum of learners in a natural
environment.
It will benefit people of all ages from
nursery school age, with well-structured activities and accelerated
learning programmes and helping to develop an understanding and
respect for the natural world.
The idea was the brainchild of the College’s
Deputy Director of the Academy of Health and Social Care Kathryn
Dixon who had visited other Forest Schools across the country
before presenting her idea to senior College managers at an
internal ‘Dragon’s Den’ event earlier this year.
Kathryn said: “I visited successful Forest
School centres in Cumbria and Somerset and thought it would work
very well here in Doncaster. We have attracted funding to start it
up and we’re hoping to have something in place by Spring 2009. The
larger project is in its planning stage and may include a purpose
built sustainable building which links the indoors to the
outdoors
“The School will help people develop the
transferable skills that would enhance the employability and
educational progression of those who attend. These skills may
include self regulation, teamwork, independence, problem solving
skills, and a positive self-esteem.
“The aim of our Forest School is to engage different types of
learners – those who find it hard to study in a normal classroom
environment. Forest School is very successful at working with those
not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETs), Entry to
Employment (E2E) students and those with learning difficulties.
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Kathryn Dixon in woodland at High Melton.
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“There is a suggestion that a young person
that has been disengaged in school is unlikely to be re-engaged in
further education without some period of transition or alternative
approach – Forest Schools offer this and re-introduce students back
into education in small steps.”
The College has secured extra funding from
Higher Futures and three staff are on training courses to become
professional Forest School practitioners.
The College’s own Early Years students in
further and higher education would benefit from the implementation
of such a School with the chance to witness and work alongside
young people in a different environment. University research could
also be carried out at the Forest School.
Kathryn added: “The list of people that could
benefit for this experience is endless. It has been highly
successful in other parts of the world and would work perfectly
here because we are lucky enough to have access to a unique piece
of woodland at our High Melton campus.
“And it won’t just be used by youngsters; this
is a place where College staff, including senior managers, could
engage in the out door environment. This would offer a stimulating
alternative to the stressful office atmosphere, even allowing some
meetings to be held outdoors. Businesses could also use the space
for team building activities and activity days .”
The School is currently in the early planning process but could
include a couple of new buildings, an outside cooking area, a pond
area and an amphitheatre. Activities could include den building and
other practical projects with a woodland theme.
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