Case Studies
Several Forest School Leaders have evaluated their Forest School sessions to inform and improve the development of Forest Schools across Norfolk. If you wish to evaluate your Forest School you can download an evaluative report template here. If you would like your case study evaluation to be added to this site please contact us as all submissions will be greatly appreciated. We would like to thank all the Forest School Practitioners who have already taken the time to submit a case study evaluation, and hope that this feedback is useful to other Forest School Leaders.
Wild Places: A Primary School transition project
This Forest School taster programme took place in Summer 2016. Pupils due to start at Blakeney Primary School the following September, along with exisiting Reception and Year 1 pupils, attended 6 weekly sessions on a woodland site close to the school. Parents were invited to attend the first 3 sessions to support the children's transition. School staff were provided with training by the Forest School leaders. Forest School leaders from the The Outrageous Nature Company organised, led and evaluated the sessions. The programme was funded by Wells Children's Centre (Action for Children). Kit was purchased thanks to a successful funding application to the Postcode Lottery Trust which will enable similar projects to take place in future.
This was the first Forest School pilot in Norfolk in 2005. Reception and Year 1 pupils from Litcham Primary school attended 6 week sessions at Houghton Hall Estate. Three Forest School Leaders organised, led and evaluated the sessions from Norfolk County Council and Norfolk Wildlife Trust.
Hopton First School Literacy Pilot
This was a one off Forest School experience with a group of year 3 pupils from Hopton First School in their school grounds. The session was organised as part of activities to raise achievement in literacy. Three Forest School Practitioners organised, led and evaluated the sessions from Broad Futures project, Norfolk County Council and Hopton First School.
Erpingham Primary KS2 Literacy Pilot
This was a one off Forest School experience with a group of Key Stage 2 pupils in their school grounds. The session was organised as part of activities to raise achievement in writing. Two Forest School Leaders organised, led and evaluated the sessions from Norfolk County Council and Erpingham Primary School. Results indicated that non-fiction writing scores increased by one sub-level after the Forest School experience.
This case study evaluates the regular Forest School activities undertaken with 2- 3 year olds and their families, using a local woodland space. Results indicate that Forest School experiences increased parent/carer involvement with their young children, increased motivation, and care from families towards the woodland space and increased frequency of use of the woodland.
Attitudes and Dispositions to Learning
This case study compares 12 learning indicators of children before a Forest School experience and then after. 3 Classes Year Reception, 1 and 2 are assessed on a scale 1-5 for each indicator before and after the experience and then the differences measured and compared. Results show a general improvement of all 12 indicators across the age range. The indicators that increased the most were motivation, concentration, curiosity and confidence.
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