Frequently Asked Questions

Forest School is a young person-centred inspirational learning process, that offers opportunities for holistic growth through regular sessions. It is a long-term program that supports play, exploration and supported risk taking. It develops confidence and self-esteem through learner inspired, hands-on experiences in a natural setting.

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The process helps and facilitates more than knowledge-gathering, it helps learners develop socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and intellectually. It creates a safe, non-judgemental nurturing environment for learners to try stuff out and take risks. Forest School inspires a deep and meaningful connection to the world and an understanding of how a learner fits within it. Our approach to risk means that learners constantly expand on their abilities by solving real-world issues, building self-belief and resilience. We believe that risk is more than just potential for physical harm, but a more holistic thing, there are risks in everything we do, and we grow by overcoming them.

We believe that a young person is not able to study in a conventional school setting until they are emotionally secure within themselves. We do not have 'learning objectives' and the entire session is young person focussed and led. We do however follow and believe in our 8 C's curriculum and try to ensure this is embedded if everything we do.

The 8 C's

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Curiosity ​

The ability to ask questions and explore how the world works

Creativity

The ability to generate new ideas and to apply them in practice

Criticism

The ability to analyse information and ideas and to form reasoned arguments and judgements

Communication

The ability to express thoughts and feelings clearly and confidently in a range of media and forms

Collaboration

The ability to to work constructively with others

Compassion

The ability to empathise with others and act accordingly

Composure

The ability to connect with the inner life of feeling and develop a sense of personal harmony and balance

Citizenship

The ability to engage constructively with society and to participate in the process to sustain it

Forest Schooling UK has been delivering provision at St John’s School in Kingston upon Thames for several years. In addition, we operate across two further sites in Berrylands, Kingston. We accept referrals through the Education Inclusion Support Service (EISS) at Achieving for Children, as well as direct referrals from schools and home-educating families of children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Our team is made up of highly trained Forest School Leaders and experienced support staff, all skilled in working with young people who present with challenging behaviours. Every member of staff receives annual safeguarding training and is qualified in specialist outdoor first aid. You can find out more about our team here.

FSUK has sites at St Johns Primary and Nursery School and Hogsmill Nature Reserve, both in Kingston Upon Thames. Our sites consists of allotments, forest areas and open spaces. We have small classrooms as most of our activity is outdoors. The sites are secure and have separate gates away from other young people and adults. We have running water and a compostable toilet. We all have radios for contacting each other if needed.

Three Bridges

• Monday - Friday 0900-1200hrs

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Hogsmill

• Monday 1300-1500 (special group)

• Tuesday 0900-1400

• Wednesday 0900-1200

• Wednesday (Older Years) 1300-1500

• Thursday 1000-1400

• Friday 1000-1400

Berrylands (Full Time)

• 0930am - 1430pm

Our placements last a minimum of 19 weeks, some part time placements can be extended up to a year. Young People may be placed full time if agreed with the Local Authority and FSUK.

You will have to drop the young person and pick them up at the correct times. Those who are older may be able to come to us independently after a discussion with the family and young person.

All young people receive drinks and a snack at basecamp. Fruit is also available. Those with us until 1400 will require a packed lunch. Full time children will need a packed lunch.

Of course, parents and carers are very welcome to come along on Visit Days

• We are always available at drop off and pick up for a quick chat

• You will receive access to a tracker online which will contain a short report of your child's days

• If your child is full time, you will receive an end of year report.

• We use Arbor to hold your child's information securely. You will have access to all your child's information as well as other information such as behaviour and attendance on our Arbor App. Download the app from your phone ( App Store or Google Play ) Your offer email will have information for logging in.

• Our phone number for parents is 0203 576 0176. You can also contact directly through the Arbor App

Safeguarding is at the heart of all that we do here at FSUK. All of our staff have received Safeguarding training and we have strict guidelines and procedures on how they can report any concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Leads. Our page on Safeguarding will help you understand in greater detail how we do this.

In addition, all of our staff are trained in first aid skills. Our Forest School leaders are trained to a nationally recognised high standard in outdoor first aid. We all have access to plasters, trauma kits and defibrillators on our sites.

We collect attendance figures as any school would. If your child is ill or is going to miss a session you must call our attendance line on 0203 576 0176 to let us know. You can also let us know through the Arbor App which you will be using whilst your child is placed with us. It is very important that you tell us as soon as possible why your child is unable to attend.

Whilst we don't have a uniform. Your child will need to dress appropriately for any weather. They will be outside for most of the day.

Please make sure they have:

• A water bottle

• Your child will need long trousers

• Wellies or waterproof shoes

• Waterproof over-trousers and coat (this can be in a bag if hot)

• Suncream if needed

• Sunhat/Gloves/Warm hat as needed

• No mobile phones or screens (older children will hand in their phones)

• If your child is with us over lunch (12pm), a healthy pack lunch (no nuts AT ALL, no sweets or fizzy drinks)

Of course, they can all be found here.

Of course. We believe being outside in all weathers enhance resilience and perseverance. If the children are dressed properly they will enjoy their day. Severe weather warnings from the Met Office are the only reasons we may close. If we do close for any reason you will always receive a text message, email and Arbor App message informing you. Assume we are open otherwise!

If you have given photo permission when you applied you may see pictures of your child on our busy social media accounts. Links can be found on every page.

We expect our staff, children and parents to be Ready, Respectful and Responsible at all times.

In addition our 5 'Golden Rules' for our sites are:

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• We look after each others bodies and minds.

• We help look after nature.

• We stay safe by staying in our fenced area.

• We won't eat anything unless an adult says it's ok.

• We keep safe by not walking through the fire circle.

We don't require our young people to wear uniform, however parents might find it simpler to have one. We also know that they like to feel part of something and may enjoy the items in our store. We use a partner, TeeMill, who are a uk based sustainable & organic supplier. Their items are of great quality and you even get money off when you return outgrown clothing.

Parents must speak to their child's named school in order to be referred to our Alternative Provision. We do not accept direct referrals from parents into our full time provision.

We’ve chosen Arbor to help us manage our school. Accessing Arbor is part of our admissions process and helps you keep track of what your Young Person is up to.

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Arbor is a simple, smart and cloud-based MIS (Management Information System), which helps us work faster, smarter and more collaboratively as a school. The Parent App and Parent Portal mean we can keep you informed about your child’s life at school in a much more accessible way. Log into Arbor to see and update your child’s information, get live updates and make payments or bookings on the go.

Download the app from your phone ( App Store or Google Play ) Your offer email will have information for logging in.

Forest Schooling UK exists to address the growing crisis in education for children and young people who are unable to thrive in traditional school settings—particularly those with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, trauma histories, neurodiversity, or challenging life circumstances.

Across the UK, rising numbers of children are being excluded from mainstream education or disengaging entirely due to environments that are not equipped to meet their complex emotional and behavioural needs. Many of these children face cycles of isolation, low self-esteem and poor mental health, leading to long-term disadvantage and social marginalisation.

Our organisation targets this problem by offering an inclusive, therapeutic and nature-based alternative to conventional schooling. We provide safe, restorative spaces where children can rebuild trust in adults, regulate their emotions and re-engage with learning at their own pace—often for the first time. Our approach reduces the need for exclusion, supports earlier intervention and helps children develop the social and emotional foundations they need to succeed in life.

In doing so, Forest Schooling UK addresses wider social challenges such as:

• Educational inequality

• Youth mental health and well-being

• Exclusion and off-rolling

• Lack of appropriate support for neurodiverse learners

• Barriers to inclusion in mainstream education

We believe that no child is “unreachable”—but many are simply being taught in ways that do not meet their needs. We aim to change that.

The mission of Forest Schooling UK is to transform the lives of children and young people who are struggling in traditional education by providing inclusive, restorative and nature-based learning experiences.

We are committed to creating safe, therapeutic outdoor environments where every child—particularly those with SEMH needs, neurodiversity, or trauma histories—can build confidence, develop emotional resilience and re-engage with learning in a way that respects their individuality and dignity.

Our work aims to reduce educational exclusion, promote mental well-being and champion a more compassionate, child-centred approach to education across the UK.

You can find our term dates here