Case Study

Ziyad was referred to Forest School when he was in year 1 because he was extremely quiet in class and lacked self-confidence. Ziyad joined us for a Forest School session one afternoon a week with seven other children for two hours. 

 

As expected, Ziyad was a very quiet boy when he first started attending Forest School. He would not engage in activities, did not explore the forest with the others and would communicate to the adults nonverbally. Ziyad was very conscious about getting dirty, wet or picking up anything in the forest. He would not attempt anything that he deemed unsafe, such as climbing trees, swinging in the hammock or using Forest School tools.  

 

Forest School is completely child-led and children do not have to do the activities but are rather encouraged to do so when they are ready. Ziyad spent a few months observing everyone and slowly over time decided to join in. Supporting Ziyad and praising small achievements started to give him the confidence to try new things. 

 

Ziyad was with us for 4 years before graduating from Forest School. By the time he left, he was laughing and joking with everyone in the group. He was confident to speak up in front of the whole group and share what he had been doing during the session but most importantly, he was covered in mud from where he had been running around exploring the forest with his friends.