Non directive Woodland Sessions

Well a few weeks in and the pupils are really enjoying the sessions, not without trial and tribulation, but all keen to continue and asking for longer.

The younger class have been really independently creative; fairy wands, fishing rods, a washing line and some environmental art...

There was lots of requests for help to tie the knots required but with only a little encouragement they all managed to tie their own. Cue a discussion amongst staff about the old tie a shoelace boards and books with the teacher thinking of making one for her classroom.

The older class have taken longer to feel settled, maybe struggling with looser boundaries than they are used to, maybe struggling with lack of direction, we've certainly had a couple of "I'm bored!" in that group. We've also had more segregation of the sexes, with one staff member wondering if it was due to the fact that the school is a feeder for single sex secondary schools and the pupils are starting to unconsciously disconnect from their opposite sex peers. It will be interesting to see if that continues. These signs are to warn the girls to keep out...

We've also had a lot of digging, which I've blogged about before, again it was instigated by boys and certainly they were the ones who were showing great excitement when  the shout of "Treasure!!" went up. Of course if you don't find any treasure maybe you can add some of your own to your hole...

But there were also real sparks of creativity, this beautiful bark bracelet...

...and this "awesome" ladder...



There has also been some great conversation amongst staff, who are finding it unsettling, and difficult, to be non directive. But the great thing is they really want to try and they are already appreciating the benefits for their pupils, and themselves. I have had times of great uncertainty and anxiety about whether this would work, and I'm still not sure whether the school will feel the benefits to their pupils is enough to warrant the time out of a busy curriculum. But with amazing experiences after only a few weeks I'm determined to keep trying...