Hogarth Primary School in Brentwood launches forest school

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Pupils are embracing outdoor learning through a new forest school in Brentwood.

Hogarth Primary School launched the programme thanks to a £5,000 grant from Essex Healthy Schools, which funded equipment including tyres, ropes, fire gear, rope swings, and magnifying glasses.

The funding also covered nets, bug hotels, a fire pit, and emotion pebbles.

The scheme involves every year group and encourages pupils to cook, create outdoor art, and develop practical skills such as tying knots.

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Lauren King, deputy headteacher, said: "We have now got the most fabulous equipment for our new forest school. Forest school is about children being able to take risks in a safe environment.

Students taking advantage of the outside (Image: Kelly Louise Clark)

"It is such a great way to learn as it supports them emotionally, socially, physically, and cognitively. They are learning as they explore the outdoors and get hands-on with nature."

Students taking advantage of the outside (Image: Kelly Louise Clark)

Students taking advantage of the outside (Image: Kelly Louise Clark)

Staff have completed forest school training to deliver the sessions.

Students taking advantage of the outside (Image: Kelly Louise Clark)

Hogarth Primary was rated as requiring improvement three years ago, but Ofsted inspectors last year praised its "outstanding" personal development offering.

Mrs King said: "We have got such lovely grounds at Hogarth and this is such a fantastic extra enrichment layer that feeds into out outstanding personal development programme.

"It is nice to be in the position where we can now focus on these lovely things on top, and to feel we can sustain it all.

"Forest school teaches respect and sparks curiosity and interest in nature and the world around us. It really is fabulous."

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