Spraoi Forest School

Who Am I?

My name is Muireann Carrol Burke and I run Spraoi Forest School.

  • I am a parent to three children aging from 5 to 14.

  • I have always been a nature enthusiast

  • I have worked with children and young adults for the last two years as part of Scouting Ireland, Foroige and the GAA

  • I am garda vetted by each entity that I work for

  • I am a certified outdoor Rec3 first-aider

  • I have already run and volunteered at Forest School programs in the D6W community

  • I am a member of the Irish Forest School Association and will qualify as a QQI level 6 Forest School Leader in 2025 upon completion of my pilot program with Scoil Mológa

  • I run a social inclusion group called Terenure Community Support & Integration, which helps all ages and nationalities integrate into the community through various activities.

What is Forest School?

Forest School fosters a child-centered ethos in relation to learning and play, whereby children can make decisions regarding what they participate in, what interests them, what games they wish to play.

As a Forest School leader my role is not to have all the answers but to facilitate curiosity, creativity, skill development, supervised risk-taking, observation, and reflection.

  • Focus on play outdoors

  • Foster holistic development

  • Child-centered

  • Physical and mental wellbeing

  • Nature connection

  • Leave no trace and environmental stewardship

  • Understanding our place in the world and being part of a community

  • Opportunity to face challenges

  • Taking supervised risks

  • Life skills and decision making development

  • Safety of children is paramount.

Where can I find out more?

Irish Forest School Association https://irishforestschoolassociation.ie/

What kind of things happen at Forest School?

The main activity that happens at forest school is play. Play is self-directed by the children with an option to participate in group activities.

  • Free play outdoors making up their own games

  • walking on low-ropes between trees

  • lying in a hammock

  • using a rope swing

  • making dens with sticks

  • playing den or stick games

  • playing outdoor games such as Eagle’s Nest, Woolly Mammoth tracking, Fox tails

  • Storytelling

  • Arts and crafts such as making a wood cookie

  • Fairy fires - learning how to light a fire in a scallop shell

What is Risky Play?

Risky play is defined as thrilling and challenging forms of play that involve a risk of physical injury Sandseter (2007).

Sandseter identified six categories of risky play which are part of forest school:

  1. Great heights: climbing trees or steep slopes

  2. High speed: running down steep slopes on uneven terrain

  3. Dangerous tools: Using saws and knives to make log dogs, whittle sticks

  4. Dangerous elements: Being near fire, ice, water

  5. Rough and tumble play: den wars, stick fights

  6. Disappearing/getting lost: Eagle’s nest, hide and seek, large play zones.

Barnardos (2014) state that risky play is key to children’s physical and mental development as well as understanding safety for them.

Risky play is always supported and supervised by Forest School adults.

In addition, as Forest School leader I complete risk benefit assessments (RBAs) of all activities at forest school so that I am confident that there are adequate controls in place to mitigate risks.

You can review Spraoi Forest School RBAs by clicking on the this button.

Child to Adult Supervision Ratios at Forest School

Children under four years old:

Parents/guardians must attend Forest School with their child unless the Forest School activities are being carried out with a registered childcare facility or school in which case the childcare facility or school’s own child safety ratios will be adhered to.

Children aged four to eight years old:

Ratio of one adult to six children.

Children nine to 12 years old:

Ratio of one adult to eight children.

Children aged 12+:

Ratio of one adult to ten children.

Two adults will always be available to supervise Forest School activities. Children are supervised at all times while at Spraoi Forest School.

If you want to find out more about Spraoi Forest School please click on the link to review our policy and procedures

Irish Forest School Association Six Principles

At Spraoi Forest School we are guided by the Irish Forest School Association six principles:

1. Regular Setting

Forest school is a long-term process of regular sessions, rather than a one-off or infrequent visits; the cycle of planning, observation, adaptation and review links each session.

2. Woodland setting

Forest school takes place in a woodland or natural environment to support the development of a relationship between the learner and the natural world.

3. Building Community

Forest school uses a range of learner-centered processes to create a community for being, development, and learning.

4. Holistic Development

Forest school aims to promote the holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.

5. Risk Taking

Forest school offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves.

6. Qualified Practitioners

Forest school is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice.

Benefits of Spraoi Forest School

All the benefits are too numerous to mention but some of the important ones are:

1. Children have fun playing outdoors

2. Fresh air and the opportunity to explore and play outdoors

3. Trees and nature inspire imaginative play and creativity

4. The space and the opportunity to assess and take supported risks

5. Builds independence, confidence and resilience to face challenges and make decisions

6. Strong nature connection to be future stewards of nature

When and where does Forest School take place?

Spraoi Forest School is completing a six week pilot program with Scoil Mológa in Mount Argus Park from March 2025.

Muireann Carroll Burke also volunteers with St. Pius Forest School in Bushy Park.

After completion of this six week pilot, Spraoi Forest School will be working with other local schools to deliver Forest School activities in local parks.

Permission for each Forest School session is sought from the local council prior to commencing Forest School activities.

Spraoi Forest School sessions usually run weekly for 2-3 hours during school time and are suitable for all age groups.

Things you need to take part in Forest School

  • Parent/guardian complete the consent form

  • A positive attitude towards playing outside

  • Wet weather jacket, trousers and shoes

  • A packed lunch/snack and water

  • Sun cream and sun hat if we do have a nice day :-)