What is Forest School?
The main focus of UK-China Education is to expand the ethos and aims of the Forest School system. Forest School is now widely accepted in the UK since 1993, when it was inspired by the Danish education system. The main ethos of forest school is to improve children’s self-esteem and scholastic aptitude. The program’s overwhelming success is based on strong empirical correlations between high self-confidence and improved performance in school. The Forest School ethos is largely based on the importance of unique learning styles represented by schemas and other human development techniques. This approach to education has been developed by many notable educational theorists, developmental psychologists and scientific pedologists such as Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget and Jerome Bruner. The successes of Forest School, and the research upon which it is based, demonstrates that by adopting independent and child lead learning, children are able to obtain a much more successful learning experience than one that is more forced and teacher lead. Thus these ethoi encourage an outdoor natural learning environment, a place that practices multi-sensory activities and where all learning styles and schemas can be utilized.
How Will UK-China Expand this in China?
UKCE’s methods for the expansion of Forest School in China are threefold.
Firstly, we promulgate a better understanding of the benefits and importance of Forest School educational theory through important media . These include, but are by no means limited to, educational lectures, press conferences and informational speeches to influential members of the educational sector. The unprecedented level achievement experienced by this method of expanding Forest School Education stands as proof of the ever more open minded and academically influenced nature of Chinese parents, teachers and educational providers.
Secondly, we work to build bridges between Chinese training company’s and the UK trainer providers. Within this operation, the course is delivered in two separate methods. On one hand, we recruit qualified and experienced Forest School trainers from the UK to China to deliver their training course, in which the contents are fully translated so our Chinese clients have a complete understanding of the course. On the other hand, we recruit student teachers, or nursery teachers from China to the UK to participate in an intensive training course. At the same time as attending the Forest School Training, our clients will also get an opportunity to explore the attractions of the UK and also receive additional English Language training.
Finally, we work intimately with many well established schools in China so that they can modify their current educational programs and facilities so that they can be fit to deliver Forest School education to the high standard that the system deserves. In addition to this, we work alongside many individuals who are in the process of creating schools so that their entire establishment can be geared around delivering forest schools curriculum.