What Are the Benefits of Forest School?

A research-led exploration of outdoor learning and how Claremont’s woodland and coastline help children thrive.

Ask most adults about their happiest childhood memories, and you’ll often hear the same themes: being outdoors, building dens, clambering over logs, discovering beetles under stones or finding that perfect hidden spot that felt like it belonged only to you.

But for many children today, these moments are less common. Their worlds are often more structured and digital, with fewer opportunities to explore, get muddy, take safe risks or learn from the natural world. Recent research shows that children’s “roam radius” (how far they wander from home) has shrunk by almost 90% since the 1970s.

This is one of the reasons that Forest School has become such a powerful movement in UK education, especially here in Sussex. Far from being a trend, it is one of the most researched and evidence-backed approaches for supporting children’s early development, confidence and wellbeing. 

At Claremont, Forest School is woven into the rhythm of our school — supported by acres of woodland, a glittering lake and even an icehouse and cross-country circuit winding through ancient oaks.

So what exactly is Forest School? And why does it have such a remarkable impact on children?

Let’s explore.

What is Forest School?

Forest School originally took root in Scandinavia, where the idea of friluftsliv (“free air life”) places outdoor time at the heart of early childhood. When UK educators encountered this approach in the 1990s, they brought back a philosophy centred on play, curiosity and independence — and adapted it to the woodland landscapes of Britain.

Here in East Sussex, Forest School has become a key part of the Claremont School experience.

In short, a “true” forest school will be:

• Long-term and consistent, not a one-off nature trip
  
  

• Child-led, with adults guiding rather than directing
  
  

• Rooted in woodland (or other natural environments with trees), where nature becomes part of the teaching team
  
  

• Holistic, developing social, emotional, cognitive and physical skills all at once
  
  

• Focused on supported risk-taking, helping children judge and manage challenge safely
  
  

The Forest School Association summarises Forest School as an “inspirational process that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.”

Forest School offers something children desperately need: space to explore, to imagine, to climb, to get things wrong and discover what they are capable of. It teaches them not just information, but qualities: resilience, curiosity, creativity, empathy, independence and environmental awareness. 

It’s also one of the most inclusive, joyful and empowering forms of education — which is why Sussex Forest School programmes remain so popular with families.

And yet, despite all this potential, outdoor learning is still far from universal. A WWF-UK survey found only 27% of UK schools regularly incorporate outdoor learning into their curriculum. It’s a reminder of how valuable it is when schools treat nature as a core part of childhood.

Why Forest School feels so different

The moment children step under the trees, or onto the sand, something shifts. The expectations of a classroom fall away, and the natural world invites questions, movement, imagination and collaboration. Instead of learning about habitats from a worksheet, they might lift a log and discover an ecosystem. Instead of practising teamwork through role-play, they work together to balance a bridge or build a shelter.

Research into outdoor learning spaces shows that this environment gives children the freedom to “co-create knowledge” with educators, rather than passively receive it. The space itself becomes part of the lesson — offering freedom, unpredictability and challenge.

At Claremont, this contrast with classroom learning is part of the magic. A child might spend the morning crafting a beautiful piece of writing, then step into the woods and learn, instinctively, how to problem-solve, persevere and explore. 

Both are learning. Both matter. And both reinforce each other.

The benefits of Forest School: what the research shows

The last twenty years have seen a wave of studies exploring the benefits of Forest School. From early years to adolescence, the findings are remarkably consistent: children thrive when they learn outdoors.

It’s been shown to benefit children in terms of confidence, social skills, language and communication, motivation, concentration, physical skills and knowledge.

Here’s what the research shows and how children feel it.

Confidence, independence and emotional growth

“I can do it.” “I can try again.” “I can help you.”

One of the clearest findings is the steady rise in children’s confidence across weeks and months of Forest School. Children often:

• become more willing to take on new challenges
  
  

• try unfamiliar activities with less hesitation
  
  

• develop stronger independence
  
  

• become more resilient when things don’t work
  
  

• engage in more imaginative and diverse play
  
  

Forest School also helps children regulate their emotions. One three-year study (McCree et al, 2018) observed children becoming calmer, more grounded and better able to navigate frustration — particularly those who’ve previously struggled with anxiety or behavioural barriers.

At Claremont, it’s common to see a child hesitant in September becoming the first to climb a bank or help a friend cross a muddy slope by spring. 

In short, parents might describe it as: their child becomes “braver”.

Communication and language flourish

The woods are full of reasons to talk: shared discoveries, curious questions, imaginative stories, problem-solving conversations and excited exclamations.

• “What lives under this log?”
  
  

• “Why do puddles happen?”
  
  

• “Where did that bird go!?”
  
  

• “How can we make this stronger?”
  
  
  
  

Studies of Forest School in the Early Years show children’s questioning becomes more sophisticated over time. A child who once said “Look!” might later ask “Where does this creature live?” or “Why did the puddle disappear?” This evolution happens because the environment invites explanation.

It’s what’s known as “real language in real contexts”, building vocabulary naturally and collaboratively. And this kind of meaningful, context-rich language feeds straight back into classroom literacy.

Cognitive development and learning behaviours

Curiosity becomes the engine of learning.

Forest School strengthens how children learn, not just what they learn.

Research consistently highlights improvements in problem-solving, creativity, observation, decision-making and perseverance. “Child-led learning” is linked to intrinsic motivation, something Forest School thrives at providing.

Studies show children who might struggle academically become deeply engaged outdoors, scoring higher on wellbeing and involvement scales. One study (Kenny’s, 2010) found this boost in wellbeing translated to improved academic attainment, describing it as an "optimal environment” for children to learn.

At Claremont, we see this daily. Teachers regularly observe children transferring Forest School thinking — questioning, designing, evaluating — back into classroom subjects.

Physical development happens naturally

Stronger bodies, sharper balance, natural fitness.

Climbing over fallen trunks, balancing across uneven ground, hauling sticks, digging, running, crouching and stretching. These are the building blocks of physical literacy. Forest School is the perfect environment for building:

• balance and coordination
  
  

• core strength
  
  

• stamina
  
  

• fine motor skills
  
  

• general physical confidence
  
  
  
  

Unlike structured exercise, children rarely notice they’re “working hard” in the woods. They’re simply absorbed in play and what they’re doing. Claremont’s setting, with its lake, slopes, ancient trees and cross-country circuit, naturally supports exactly this kind of physical confidence.

Wellbeing, nature connection and calm

The research is clear: time in nature supports better emotional wellbeing.

Forests have what some researchers call “therapeutic qualities”, providing a “location for belonging” (Cudworth and Lumber, 2021). Children often describe feeling peaceful, happy or “free” in the woods. Studies show that Forest School supports:

• reduced anxiety
  
  

• opportunities for self-regulation
  
  

• increased happiness and vitality
  
  

• stronger self-esteem
  
  

• a sense of belonging
  
  

• a deeper connection to the natural world
  
  
  
  

It also builds a lifelong connection to the natural world, something crucial in our era of environmental uncertainty. Children who attend Forest School develop more pro-environmental attitudes and a deeper sense of stewardship.

How Claremont brings Forest School to life

At Claremont, Forest School isn’t an occasional enrichment activity. It’s a central, beloved part of school life. Children from Pre-Reception to Year 6 visit our woodland multiple times a week, giving them regular, meaningful contact with nature.

We’re lucky to enjoy a setting that feels both magical and educational:

• an ancient woodland filled with wildlife
  
  

• a peaceful lake that changes with the seasons
  
  

• an historic icehouse hidden beneath the trees
  
  

• a regional cross-country route winding through the forest
  
  
  
  

Sessions are primarily child-led, supported by experienced practitioners who know when to step back and when to help children push a little beyond their comfort zone.

On any given day, you might find children:

• building a shelter and testing how waterproof it is
  
  

• designing artwork using leaves, clay, bark or charcoal
  
  

• learning to use tools safely and respectfully
  
  

• identifying insects or animal tracks
  
  

• discovering beetles, worms or earwigs with friends
  
  

• solving practical challenges together and learning from mistakes
  
  
  
  

For many of our pupils, Forest School becomes the place where they first light a fire, build a shelter, spot a woodpecker or lead their friends on an adventure. Every inch of the woodland becomes a place for discovery, joy and growth.

And if you thought Forest School was just limited to woodland settings, it’s not! For a uniquely East Sussex Forest School experience, Claremont also offers students the opportunity to participate in Beach School. Here, children build resilience by navigating shifting sands, pebbles, breezes, waves and weather. They work together naturally — investigating rock pools, sculpting sand structures or spotting patterns left by the tide.

Much like Forest School, Beach School draws on the same research-backed principles of child-led exploration, sensory immersion and supported risk-taking. It’s all about encouraging children to notice and wonder, with curiosity and confidence.

Is Forest School worth it? Closing thoughts

So, is Forest School worth it? 

In short, yes. After even just a few sessions, parents report children becoming more confident, willing to try new things and more resilient in the face of challenges. They talk more, ask questions, spend more time independently playing and show a richer curiosity about the world.

Children also bring these qualities back into the classroom: perseverance with writing, creative problem-solving in maths and more assured interactions with their peers. It means stronger friendships, richer vocabularies and happier school days.

Yes, Forest School can be muddy. And yes, waterproofs are always worth labelling! But these are small trade-offs for the confidence, joy and grounding it brings.

At Claremont School in the heart of East Sussex, our Forest School and Beach School bring these benefits to life every week. They help our pupils grow into confident, grounded young people who understand themselves as deeply as they understand the world around them.

If you’d like to see our approach in action, we’d be delighted to welcome you.