FEHN · Forest School Chile ·
Educación Holística en la naturaleza recognised for good Forest School practice
FEHN is celebrating its success at becoming a Recognised Forest School Provider by offering children an opportunity to experience ‘good practice’ Forest School.
“It gives me great pleasure to inform you that your organisation has today been approved as an FSA Recognised Forest School Provider. Congratulations! You are helping to support ‘quality Forest School for all’ by encouraging, sharing and inspiring people to connect with nature through the six principles of the Forest School approach and you are our first overseas Recognised Provider.”
Nell Seal
Forest School Asosiation
“I believe in an education for life and the earth. In a quality education that creates a link between nature and holistic human being. And I want to envision an education that creates opportunities for everyone. People need to go back to nature since we are finally nature and the best way to do it is through education. Knowing forest school made a lot of sense to us because its principles and foundations. And by studying it, we were able to create a real program with everything necessary to make it work in Chile. There are many elements that are sometimes overlooked when carrying out forest school o nature pedagogy without a research or studies behind, it can lead to harm and / or negative experiences. Risk assessments, a sustainable and regenerative management plan, protocols and much more are essential when it comes to educational quality in nature pedagogy o forest schools. Thanks to all the research process that we have carried out during these 4 years we have achieved great and beautiful results and children, educators and families happy and aware of their environment and teaching / learning process.”
Valentina Alliende Basterrica
FEHN Co-founder and Director
Forest School Chile · Holistic education in nature
Forest School is a specialised learning approach based in a woodland or natural environment with trees. It offers all participants regular opportunities to develop self-confidence and esteem through hands-on learning experiences. Its roots reach back to early years pioneers in outdoor learning in Scandinavia.
In October 2017, the Forest School Association (FSA) - the UK’s professional body and voice for all things Forest School - launched a new scheme to recognise Forest School Providers who demonstrated that they are following good Forest School practice - the FSA Recognised Forest School Provider scheme. Successful applicants such as FEHN are added to a publicly accessible map on the FSA’s website.
For parents wondering where to send their children, or even for decision makers such as Local Authorities and Academies, it is important to know that a provider is operating professionally. Are they working in accordance with good Forest School practice? Are the sessions conducted so that the children’s self-confidence, communication skills, use of tools (among other skills), is progressing week on week? Do they have the appropriate qualifications, First Aid Certificate and risk assessment processes in place? Are the woodland sites well managed? The FSA Recognised Forest School Provider Scheme offers that reassurance!
Gareth Wyn Davies (CEO of the Forest School Association) says,
“Good Forest School practice is being followed by dedicated Forest School professionals all over the UK. We believe that the FSA Recognised Forest School Provider scheme will provide these schools and organisations with the means of demonstrating the quality of their work to parents and those who fund their work. It will also help promote their work as they will be found on the FSA publicly searchable map. Forest School is a distinct learning approach based on a set of 6 principles. Our scheme helps people identify those providers who are following good Forest School practice and distinguishes them from other outdoor education that is not Forest School.
We therefore congratulate FEHN on their success at becoming an approved ‘good practice’ provider.”
The scheme takes providers through an evidence based assessment process ensuring that their practice meets all the necessary requirements to operate professionally in line with the 6 good practice principles of Forest School. It also gives providers a chance to take stock of their programme(s) to see if any improvements need to be made.
If providers fulfil all the evidence needs, and their application is successful, applicants receive a range of benefits including an e-badge that they can display on their website and marketing materials, are listed on an online publicly searchable map and can access a range of member discounts.
Feedback from successful applicants who have been through the application process has so far proved positive but ultimately the real success comes from the participants using Forest School. As David, aged 14, confirms, “I don’t have ADHD when I’m out in the woods!”.
Ensuring provision is professional is a major part of this experience and the FSA’s goal is to ensure that more positive outcomes, like David’s, are the result of good practice Forest School provision.
