Keeping Safe

The safety of the children and adults who come to experience Forest School with us (and the health of the woodland environment itself) is paramount. As a result we have numerous policies in place (all laid out in detail in our handbook) to ensure the safety of all our stakeholders:

  • Regularly updated (termly) risk assessments for each site and daily site risk assessments before every session.
  • Regularly updated risk benefit assessments for all planned activities (including fire) and any ad hoc activities that are part of normal (but potentially risky) play.
  • High supervision ratios of adults to children – at least 1 adult to every 5 children, more if possible. One to one supervision for tool use or fire work.
  • Careful modelling of good practice, correct tool use and safe behaviour by all adults. Information sheets for adult volunteers so that they know how to behave and what their responsibilites are.
  • A run through of hazards and rules with every group before each session to remind children and adults what they need to be careful of.
  • All our leaders have up-to-date Forest School First Aid training.
  • Robust health and safety policies (including tool and fire use) as well as hygiene policies.
  • Carefully thought out Emergency Action Plans in the case of a variety of specific emergencies and for more general emergencies.
  • Behaviour, safeguarding, confidentiality and complaints policies in place. Safeguarding training and assessment completed.
  • Ecological impact matrix and woodland management plans created for our sites to ensure our sites are not overused or damaged by our use.