We make every effort to keep our terms and conditions straightforward and transparent. We attempt to provide clear guidance of our expectations and how we work in partnership with our clients.
Payment:
Payment is by BACS transfer and is required in advance of attending sessions.
Cancellation:
- Forest School sessions take place in all weathers, except those considered to pose an adverse risk, such as high winds or thunderstorms. In such cases, sessions will be rearranged
- Cancellation (with exception of a refund for a season related booking) must be made at least 10 days before the start of the booked for season or sessions to allow enough time for other groups/organisations on the waiting list to be given the opportunity to attend
- N.B. There are no refunds given for individual sessions missed during a series, or for individual sessions
Consent Forms - Medical Activities and Photography:
- Consent forms must be completed and returned to the Forest School Leader - Basia Dowling - at least 7 days before the commencement of the Forest School session(s) for which you have booked
- We require any changes to information submitted on our consent forms to be shared with us for the comfort and safety of all learners
- All learners are required to complete a confidential Emergency Contact & Medical Information Form prior to undertaking Forest School sessions
- Learners must bring all medication stated on their individual medical forms and a completed and signed Administration of Medicine Form for use in case of an emergency.
- Learners will be supported by a First Aider or Medical Emergency Personnel to administer medication
- Woodland Explorers staff will not administer insulin pens
- Learners who do not have the appropriate stated medication with them during the session will not be permitted on site or to participate in the session
- Participating schools/Other Educational and Recreational Organisations and/or participating school/other educational and recreational organisation staff undertake the sole responsibility of providing and administering emergency Salbutamol inhalers as appropriate
Safeguarding:
- Our policies and procedures relating to safeguarding for both learners and staff can be found on our Policies & Procedures page on our website: www.woodlandexplorers.online
- We provide confidentiality in relation to information shared by service users, except in circumstances where disclosure makes it a legal obligation to share information with the appropriate professionals
Protecting your Privacy:
- Any personal information stored on paper relating to learners attending sessions will be destroyed after the completion of attendance
- Emails provided for booking purposes will not be automatically added to our mailing list. You will need to subscribe to our list to receive regular news and updates
- The respect of privacy of the learner is our highest priority. We do however take photographs and occasionally make short film clips during Forest School sessions. We will always ask the learner's permission before using photographs and/or recordings for marketing purposes or shared on our social media platforms
Suitable Clothing:
- It is extremely important that all learners come suitably dressed for a Forest School/ Outdoor Learning session
- Our Dress Code can be found on our website and all learners will be provided with a Clothing List prior to undertaking Forest School/Outdoor Learning sessions
Suitable clothing includes:
- Waterproof trousers and jacket, as mud and water are integral to many Forest School activities
- Wellies and/or warm, sturdy boots (such as winter boots or snow boots);
- Thick socks and/or welly socks (to keep feet warm all year round)
- Long sleeved T-shirt
- Fleece and/or warm jumper
- Wooly hat and/or sun hat
- Gloves (preferably waterproof such as ski-style gloves)
- Warm waterproof coat with hood
The following clothing is deemed as not permitted to be worn at Forest School sessions:
- Short sleeved T-shirts, as bare arms can get stung by nettles
- Shorts, as bare legs can be scratched and/or stung
- Leggings, as the material is too thin to provide adequate protection from brambles/nettles
- Sandals, flip flops, Crocs or similar type of footwear, as the soles do not provide adequate protection
School Groups:
- We lead Forest School sessions on participating school premises
- Up to 30 learners can be taught in a Forest School Session
- FS1 - EYFS (Nursery/Pre-School), FS2 - EYFS (Reception), Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2), Key Stage 2 (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6), Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9), and Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11), and Key Stage 5 (Years 12 and 13) learners can participate in Forest School sessions
- A School Group Forest School session is £120 for up to 30 learners; £720 for six sessions (not including Learning Journal or USB stick)
- The duration of a Forest School session is 2 hours: (am) 9.30am - 11.30am; (pm) 1.00pm - 3.00pm
- A minimum of 2 adults must accompany each school group (of which one must be a current member of participating school staff) and participate during the session
- School staff will be responsible for ensuring learners are appropriately dressed prior to attending the Forest School session and manage the personal hygiene requirements of those learners
- Learners who usually require 1:1 support from an adult in the regular classroom setting, must be accompanied by the adult at Forest School
- A minimum of 6 Forest School sessions are required to be booked
- We also develop and maintain Forest School sites. Forest School site development includes: an information meeting to discuss requirements; site assessment and design plan; site specific Forest School Handbook; Risk Assessment documents; all aspects of planting and structural elements, x3 maintenance sessions per year
- A costing for Forest School site development on school grounds is individual to each client group
- All Forest School sessions will be planned for and evaluated. Planning is bespoke to the individual school and/or learning group and will be communicated securely to the relevant member of school staff on a weekly basis, prior to attending the Forest School session. It should be viewed as a working document
- A planning meeting with the relevant school staff will take place a minimum of 28 days before the start of a series of Forest School sessions. This enables us to appropriately pitch the level of experience to the group and ensure that the work we undertake at Forest School compliments and enhances that which is already happening at school
- At the end of the term, the school will receive a Learning Journal containing planning, photographs and written observations evidencing the work undertaken at Forest School
- All learners are expected to adhere to the learning and behaviour expectations at Forest School, which can be found in the Forest School Handbook
- All photographs taken throughout Forest School sessions will be transferred onto an encrypted USB stick and given to the school in conjunction with the Learning Journal
Other Educational & Recreational Organisations:
- We lead Forest School sessions from participating Other Educational & Recreational Organisations premises
- Up to 15 learners can be taught in a Forest School Session
- Forest School sessions can be booked as either a morning or afternoon session at £120 or as a full day session at £240
- The duration of a Forest School session is 2 hours: (am) 9.30am - 11.30am; (pm) 1.00pm - 3.00pm
- A full day Forest School session runs from 9.30am - 3.00pm
- Lunch will not be included as part of a full day Forest School session, with the exception of an Outdoor Cooking Focus option, where we will make a meal together to share
- A minimum of 2 adults must accompany each educational group (of which one must be a current member of participating staff) and participate during the session
- Other Educational and Recreational Organisation staff will be responsible for ensuring learners are appropriately dressed prior to attending the Forest School session and manage the personal hygiene requirements of those learners
- Learners who usually require 1:1 support from an adult in the regular classroom/learning setting, must be accompanied by the adult at Forest School
- All Forest School sessions will be planned for and evaluated. Planning is bespoke to the individual learning group and will be communicated securely to the relevant member of staff, prior to attending the Forest School session. It should be viewed as a working document
- A planning meeting with the relevant staff will take place a minimum of 28 days before the start of a Forest School session. This enables us to appropriately pitch the level of experience to the group and ensure that the work we undertake at Forest School compliments and enhances that which is already happening
- All learners are expected to adhere to the learning and behaviour expectations at Forest School, which can be found in the Forest School Handbook
- All photographs taken throughout Forest School sessions will be transferred onto an encrypted USB stick and given to the educational/recreational organisation
Outdoor Learning INSET Sessions:
- All Outdoor Learning INSET sessions will be lead at participating Schools/Other Educational & Recreational Organisations premises
- Up to 30 adults can be catered for in one Outdoor Learning INSET session
Outdoor Learning INSET days can be organised as:
- A half day sessions (9.30am - 12.00pm and/or 1.00pm - 3.30pm) at £400
- A full day session (9.30am - 3.30pm) at £700
- Outdoor Learning INSET sessions can take place at participating Schools/Other Educational & Recreational Organisations premises
- Outdoor Learning INSET sessions are bespoke to the unique requirements of the school/organisation taking part
- An information meeting with relevant staff will take place a minimum of 28 days before Outdoor Learning INSET sessions. This enables us to appropriately pitch the level of experience to the group and ensure that we deliver meaningful skills and activities, which learners can take back into their school/organisational settings to enhance their teaching and the delivery of curriculum outcomes, as well as working to the best of their abilities within a team structure
- Optional additional support relating to all aspects of Outdoor Learning can be offered to staff back at school for a minimum of 3 sessions throughout the year at £50 per hour
- All learners will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire prior to attending the Outdoor Learning INSET sessions
- All learners will be asked to complete a brief evaluation at the end of the Outdoor INSET sessions
- All learners will be dressed appropriately to work outside and participate in all activities