Forest School: what it is and how to check a school

The Forest School Association (FSA), the professional body, describes Forest School as a child-centred learning process that offers regular sessions in a natural setting, supporting play, exploration and supported risk-taking. It has roots in the Scandinavian outdoor tradition and arrived in the UK in 1993, when nursery nurses from Bridgwater College in Somerset visited Denmark and started their own programme.

The FSA says "quality" Forest School holds to all six principles:

1. Long term. It is a process of regular sessions, not one-off or occasional visits, with each session linked by planning, observation, adaptation and review.
2. Natural setting. It takes place in woodland or a natural environment.
3. Learner-centred. It uses a range of learner-centred processes.
4. Holistic. It aims to promote the all-round development of everyone involved.
5. Supported risk. It offers learners the chance to take supported risks appropriate to the setting and to themselves.
6. Qualified practitioners. It is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who keep developing their practice.

The FSA's criteria add that sessions should last a minimum of two hours (except for participants with severe and complex additional needs), that there should be a high ratio of adults to children, and that the leader should hold at least an accredited Level 3 Forest School qualification and an up-to-date first aid qualification with an outdoor element.

Source: Forest School Association, What is Forest School?, Full principles and criteria for good practice, and History of Forest School.

Outdoor learning is a wider term for any teaching outdoors: the school garden, the playground, a nature walk, a trip to a local park. It does not need a specialist qualification, and it is valuable in its own right. Forest School is the narrower practice described above. A school may offer either, both or neither, and each is a fair thing to look for. What matters is that the school says accurately which one it means.

There is no national register of Forest School. What we have is a count from school websites: of 16,210 open primary schools whose websites list clubs or programmes, 5,658 mention forest school (35%). For secondary schools it is 103 of 2,981 (3%). WhatSchool collected this in February and March 2026. It is not verified, and a mention does not tell you whether the sessions meet the six principles below.

If you want to browse a map of schools that mention forest school or outdoor learning, WhatSchool has one: forest schools map on whatschool.ai.

• Who leads the sessions, and do they hold a Level 3 Forest School qualification and current first aid?
• Where do sessions take place, on the school site or at a separate woodland? Is it the same place each time?
• How often does each class go, for how long, and for how many weeks?
• Which year groups take part, and is it every term? Is it for everyone or a targeted group?
• What happens in bad weather, and what do children need to bring or wear?
• How are adult-to-child ratios set, and how are risks managed?
• Is the provider recognised by the Forest School Association? The FSA runs a recognition scheme for providers.

The FSA says there is a lot of research on Forest School outcomes, and an early study by the Forestry Commission and the New Economics Foundation (Murray and O'Brien, 2005, "Such Enthusiasm - a joy to see") looked at Forest School in Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Wales. We have not been able to check the findings for particular needs, so we do not make claims here about autism, ADHD or anxiety.

What you can do is ask practical questions: can the sessions be adapted for my child, who will support them, is there a quiet space, shelter and toilet access, how are the clothing, sensory and safety needs handled, and is this part of my child's plan? The school's SEN coordinator and the Forest School leader should both be able to answer.