Council area: Belfast City Council
Forest School contact: Rachel McCoy
Main Forest School contact email address: rmccoy680@c2kni.net
School website address: http://www.strandtown.co.uk/
Year of Forest School accreditation:

Background: We are very excited about our Forest School journey here at Strandtown and Rachel has enjoyed working with Danielle and Brian as she works towards the Level 3 Forest School badge. The importance of emotional and physical health and well-being is a prerequisite for all forms of learning and we are blessed with a vast area of outdoor space and some beautiful gardens within our own school grounds. Rachel looks forward to sharing her learning and experiences with the whole school as we move forward with growing our very own Forest site in Strandtown. We look forward to making memories and leaving no trace as we explore the natural wildlife and habitats that live within our own school grounds.

Forest School setting: We are so fortunate to have an eco-garden and other gardens in which the children can enjoy fresh air and outdoor learning experiences. We are designing and creating a vision for the future on our front pitches and the children, staff and parents have helped to plant twenty trees and an orchard site so far. We have applied for funding for plants and shrubs to continue this long term aim of having a sheltered forest area in which the children can learn from nature. We are also developing a sensory garden and are keen for parent and community volunteers to help in any way they can. It is lovely to watch the engagement and team with that occurs so naturally when children are Learning without Walls. Thank you NIFSA!