New all-weather shelter for Forest School

Pupils at Chetwynde are enjoying the great outdoors under a new pop-up shelter in the school’s woodland grounds.

The impressive shelter was funded by the Sue Peaple Trust and installed by Stuart Barratt, of Just Grow Forest School, with help from the school’s site manager.

Senior Teaching Assistant at Chetwynde Janet Brown, who holds the Forest School Leader qualification, said it was a major development that would greatly enhance the pupils’ experience.

“Forest schools have many benefits for children including improving physical and mental health, hands-on experiences to help develop problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking skills, confidence and environmental awareness,” she said.

“With limited time to set up provision before sessions, it can be a challenge to get outside but the new shelter can be put up and down by one person in minutes, giving great flexibility in use of our forest space and meaning we can enjoy learning rain or shine,” she said.

“Our grounds are spectacular and we recognise the value of children of all ages spending time outdoors which enables practical learning to occur in a different way outside the classroom.”

She said seating will be installed soon and the children are already enjoying classes outside in their wellies and waterproofs while the shelter will provide additional shade on hot summer days.

The school, which is part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust, has focused on developing its Forest School provision this term, zoning an area for tool use and woodland craft. It also runs the John Muir award for senior students.

Volunteers have built and sited a new mud kitchen and helped Mrs Brown clear space for another. Storage crates have been put in containing tyres, planks, crates and pipes so the children can construct and create on a large scale.

“We have many people and companies to thank for their generous ongoing support and donation of either time and skills and materials to allow us to continue to improve our area,” said Mrs Brown.

“We are delighted to receive this second very generous donation from the Sue Peaple Trust, who also supported us last year with equipment for use in sessions and funding for more training.

“In addition, we’ve had support from South Lakes Tree Surgeons, Forth Engineering, donations from James Thornton and Geoff Cruse and Nathan Brown, our PTA and school staff including Gaye Collings and our site team and wonderful volunteers.

“Without us working together, the long-term plan of developing forest school on the site would not be possible,” she said.

“Next year we aim to get a proper fire pit area established and make improvements to the area surrounding the outdoor classroom as part of our development plan.”

Chetwynde PTA has pledged funding for upcoming projects such as a climbing structure, willow structure and allotment regeneration.

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