Nursery 

Children will be taught to: 

Learn the Forest School rules and begin to follow them with support, including how to move around the site. 

Sit on logs in the Fire Circle for a short time to listen to adults, beginning to know not to step inside the inner circle. (Rope) 

Begin to stand up & move behind their log with adult support. 

Hand over hand support to use peelers to whittle sticks. 

Use rubber mallets to tap objects using both hands, with adult support. 

Use cord to begin to tie single knot with support around fence posts or large stick. 

Use play spades to dig in sand or loose soil. 

Follow simple instruction with one or two parts sometimes with adult support. 

Reception 

Children will be taught to: 

Learn the Forest School rules and begin to follow them with support as needed, including how to move around the site. 

Stand up and move behind their log sometimes with adult support. 

Sit on logs in fire circle for short time knowing not to step inside inner circle. (Rope) 

Use peelers to whittle sticks (Elder) with growing independence and support as needed. 

Use tent pegs to push out pith with adult support. 

Use rubber mallets and stubby hammers to tap objects using both hands. 

Use cord and thick string to tie a single knot, moving to a double knot with support if needed. 

Begin to lash sticks together to make frames with adult support. 

Use palm drills with adult support to make small holes in wood. 

Use child sized garden spades to dig holes. 

Follow simple instructions with one or two parts independently. 

Year 1 

Children will be taught to: 

Remember and use Forest school rules including how to move around site. 

Sit on logs in Fire Circle, following rules not to enter inner rope circle.  

Stand up and move to stand behind own log when asked to by an adult.  

Use peelers to whittle sticks (Elder) independently. 

Use tent pegs to push out pith independently. 

Use rubber mallets, stubby or pin hammers to hit large nails with adult support as needed. 

Use thick or thin string to tie double knots independently. 

Lash sticks together to make right angles, crosses, frames and rafts with adult support as needed. 

Use palm drills and hand drills with support as needed to drill holes in wood.  

Use junior hacksaws and bow saws, (in pairs) to cut wood with adult support. 

Use child sized garden spades to dig holes turn over soil and plant seeds with support as needed. 

Follow instructions with two or three parts independently.   

Year 2 

Children will be taught to:

Independently move around the Forest School area with mindfulness of the Forest School rules. 

Sit on logs in Fire Circle, put up hand to move and always move around outside of log circle knowing they must not enter the inner rope circle.  

Whittle a variety of sticks using peelers competently and independently. 

Begin to use forest school knives to whittle Elder sticks with adult support. (1:1) 

Use rubber mallets, stubby or pin hammers to join wood with large nails independently. 

Use thick or thin string to lash sticks together and tie double knots to create frames and 3D models independently. 

Use palm drills and hand drills to make holes in wood independently  

Use junior hacksaws and bow saws (in pairs) mostly independently. 

Use child sized garden spades to turn over and cultivate soil, plant seeds and seedlings independently. 

Follow complex instructions with two or three parts.