Our Curriculum
A curriculum that
grows with the child
At Canopy, the learning is based upon an emergent curriculum — we take the lead from our students. The seasons, weather and emotional landscape of the group influence our activities, within a holistic framework rather than a static, step-by-step process.
How it fits together
From ethos to impact
Our ethos underpins everything. From it flow our policies, our practice, and the observations and feedback we share with schools and families.
Look after ourselves, look after each other and look after the place that we'are in.
Ethos, mission and values
Our ethos
underpins everything that takes place within the Forest School. It encompasses our beliefs and values, purpose and passions.
Policies and
Outcomes
Our Policies are built upon our ethos showing what, when, where, who, why and how we deliver our Forest School programme. Our policies and procedures are the principles which guide decisions and actions.
Practice and
Experiences
The practice and experiences that we deliver are based upon our Ethos and Policies and the 6 Forest School principles. We also work on individual child targets through our provision and staff interactions.
Observations and Feedback
We reflect, assess and feedback to staff, the school, pupils and parents. We capture and record ideas, activities, skills growth and progress. We create termly reports and progress against individual targets. We create annual impact reports and continually reflect, adjust and review our practice.
Termly Theme
One value, each term
Each term takes one of our core values as a focus. Like the six Forest School principles, no single value takes precedence — they interlock and work harmoniously.
What shapes our curriculum?
Our layers of learning
Alongside the visible skills and knowledge, the real magic is in the unseen — our leaders subtly weave emotional literacy and intrinsic motivation into every session.
Emergent curriculum
The learning is based upon an emergent curriculum — we take the lead from our students, not a static step-by-step process.
Child-led learning
Our planning is loose in form to allow for flexibility and child-led adaptations, with skeleton overviews that grow organically with the group.
Seasonal influence
The seasons, weather and emotional landscape of the group influence our activities. We follow a holistic framework of pedagogy.
Emotional literacy
We continuously weave emotional literacy and intrinsic motivation into each session — looking after ourselves, each other and the environment.
National Outdoor Learning Award
We can put each student through the NOLA award, capturing the personal development outcomes of their regular sessions.
Planning & assessment
We use formative and summative assessment, baseline assessments in the first six weeks, and goals linked to EHCPs and individual targets.
Impact reports
We produce termly reports, progress against individual targets, and annual Impact Reports shared with schools and families.
Safety & safeguarding
Each session begins with a daily risk assessment. We monitor attendance and engagement and work closely with each school's DSL.
Start a conversation
See how it works in practice
Talk to us about how our curriculum can align with your school's targets and inclusion strategy.
The National Outdoor Learning Award
At Canopy Forest School we can run the National Outdoor Learning Award with groups. This award scheme recognises and captures the personal development outcomes of participants during their regular Forest School sessions with us.
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The award was created by Dr. Roger Hopper and has been used by the Institute of Outdoor Learning since 2018. It is based upon long standing research into Outdoor learning’s impact on personal development and one of the main aims of the NOLA award is to capture and celebrate the personal and social qualitative change created by outdoor learning, in a measurable manner.
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This award is underpinned by educational best practice and European welfare legislation. It focuses on three main aspects Respect, Safety and Learning and within each of these aspects three objectives are addressed myself, others and the environment.
