Our last session with Armoy Cross Community Playgroup today, where the playgroup leaders invited #parents to see what #ForestSchool is all about. It is great to have parents on board with Forest School, and they #understand why children come home covered in #mud!

Two observations at St. Mary's PS, Maguiresbridge yesterday. Mrs O'Hanlon read Leaf Man to the class, made wands with leaves and created leaf pictures. Mrs Mohan read the Gruffalo and had a letter from the Gruffalo which asked the class to make dens for the Gruffalo characters.

To start the new school year, we visited St. MacNissi’s Primary School - Larne to help build the teachers' #confidence in taking their classes #outdoors. The teachers were enthused at how simple #activities can achieve so much #learning without them becoming over complicated.

Miss McAleese led a Forest School session based on #Hedgehog houses this morning for her #observation, using Forest School to link the learning P1 has been doing in the class. Thanks to Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council for funding Randalstown Central Primary School last school year. #forestschoolsni

After looking at the work of Andy Goldsworthy, Miss Mercer set her P6 class off to create some pictures using natural materials. Some budding artists at Ballysillan Primary School and Nursery #forestschoolsni #learningwithoutwalls #observation #art

Our Local Area Forest School (#LAFS) network has started. Our first stop this month is at Belfast Castle. The Lord Mayor, Micky Murray, welcomed our delegates and also presented a #NIFSA plaque to Holy Trinity PS for #achieving their Level 3 in Leadership in Forest School.

A great day at Belfast Castle with Northern Ireland Forest School Association planning our next steps, building fires 🔥, roasting apples and story telling under a beautiful canopy of forest 🌳

This week we had around 60 educators at Belfast Castle to hear all about Forest Schools. Northern Ireland Forest School Association empower educators to bring the class room outside & recognise the transformative impact of learning through nature. I also met Fane Street Primary who are becoming a Forest School!

The rain stopped for this morning's #training session with Cregagh PS I like to do my first session on #camouflage. It gets the pupils looking around, #focusing and #connecting with #nature and what is around them. After break, we created #minibeast pictures and a minibeast hunt.

Great day yesterday attending the Northern Ireland Forest School Association conference where we were able to network with other Special Schools and plan our next steps. Really useful and lots of ideas to take forward 🍂

Derry Strabane Cncl Eco-Schools ...Northern Ireland Forest School Association presented the idea of #ForestSchools; they have developed the the only nationally-recognised Forest School qualification specifically for Northern Ireland... #ClimateEducation

Today, P2 pupils at Central Integrated Primary School #walked to Shaftesbury Park so Miss McCluskey could carry out her #ForestSchool observation. When there, the pupils carried out an enchanted #scavenger hunt and then #built homes for the fairies and elves. Well done 🌳

P1 and P4 at Templepatrick PS & NU started their #ForestSchool journey this morning. P1's had a fun time #exploring their Forest School garden and P4 put their #teamwork skills to the test for den building. Thanks to NIEA for funding the programme.

Tuesday and Wednesday were spent observing four staff members at Glenbrook Nursery School, they all ran fantastic Forest School sessions, the pupils were engaged and had fun. Keep up the great work. #forestschoolni #learningwithoutwalls #observations #forestschoolfun

Taughmonagh Primary School started their #forestschool journey today, thanks to #funding from Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Nursery practised working #together to build houses for their animals. P6 put their map making №skills to the test.

How did you warm up today? P6's at Taughmonagh Primary School enjoyed some wwrmnjuice made by boiling water in the Kelly Kettle. Nursery had their first trip to the forest and enjoyed exploring. #forestschoolsni #learningwithoutwalls #colddays #itsnowed

Yesterday, Alexander Dickson PS started their Forest School journey, thanks to funding from Northern Ireland Environment Agency #forestschoolsni #learningwithoutwalls #journey

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The sun was shining yesterday for some cartography and tree work with The Irish Society's Primary School and Nursery Unit. Thanks to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency for funding the programme. #forestschoolni #learningwithoutwalls #mapmaking #art #teamwork

It was all about Viking runes with Taughmonagh Primary when Mr Wheatley was having his Forest School observation. The whole class were very engaged using natural material to create their names. #forestschoolsni #learningwithoutwalls #observations #curriculumlinks