4.2- Assignment (Unit 4): Develop a communication strategy to exchange information with

Naomi Harvey
Aug 20, 2024
3 min read

Having good communication with anyone that may have an interest in our Forest School is key to a successfully run Forest School. We need to communicate to many people within our system and need to make sure the correct information is being given out.

Headteacher/SLT

We need to present our planning to the Headteacher or SLT, either during a staff meeting or through email. Getting feedback on the planning is valuable, and it's crucial as the school leader to ensure that we adhere to both the Forest School ethos and the Primary School's ethos.

Ernest Cook Trust

Our woodland is owned by The Ernest Cook Trust, we have multiple people we need to contact when using the site. We have Liz Mackenzie who is the school lead for Ernest Cook Trust, she is the initial contact we must go through. We then have a woodland manager we can contact regarding any questions to the management of the woodlands. We then have the farmer who locally farms around our woodland, we have to have contact with him when attending the site to ensure there are no risks walking through the land to gain access to the site. We contact all of the above people via email or phone.

Other staff members

When we visit the site, three staff members are available to assist during the sessions. It is crucial for the staff to be informed about the session plan, any resources they may need to handle, and any specific information related to a child. All staff members must review the plan, typically sent via email at least three days prior. The plan will outline the purpose of the planned activities and highlight any potential changes. Communication with the staff will be conducted through either email or in-person discussions.

Volunteers

Before each session, volunteers receive a verbal briefing outlining the day's activities and the level of interaction or involvement required from them. Prior to the sessions, they are also provided with information on the forest school's ethos and goals. They are informed about our approach to interacting with children, emphasising the importance of allowing them to explore and maintaining a safe distance.

Parents

We mainly communicate with parents through emails, this way we inform them of any information they may need to act upon, such as what the children need for the sessions and the basic outline of what they will be experiencing. We also have a school website, facebook and instagram page. On these pages we upload photos from our sessions to show the parents/guardians what it is the children have been up to. If we have observed any particularly positive or negative behaviour during sessions, the child’s parent is contacted or spoken to on collection of their behaviour and if there are any plans we may need to put into place to help their development.

Other Forest School Leader

Myself and a Teacher from my school are both completing this course, due to this we are in constant contact with each other about the sessions and what we personally think could benefit the children. It is fantastic to have another person to bounce idea’s off and possibly have a difference of opinion and work out a solution together, hopefully covering all bases to the child's benefit.

Example of our website and information we feed the parents/guardians.