Forest School.....omg the noise!

[SenseCheckMe]

We live next to primary school, never been a issue. But in recent years they have set up a Forest School which encourages nature learning and outdoor activities, all great stuff.

However, the Forest School is located (on the school field, in a small group of trees) directly behind our garden's rear fence.

The noise!!!! Classes seem to be held several times a day, and there's much shreiking and screaming going on.

Roughly 30 or so kids at a time, several groups a day, every school day, for 5-6 hours with few quiet breaks.

It's now impossible to enjoy garden when there's equivalent of a large children's party going on.

It's not just me that is effected, ironically it's the wildlife too. The birds are frequently scared off, and quite upsettingly, is the hedgehogs which (yearly visitors, hibinating close to trees) are rapidly dwindling each spring.

I did call the school twice, to advise of the hibernating hedgehogs and also concerns of noise. But, nothing has changed.

So....what should i do? I'm strongly considering selling.

I’d say the joy of summer holidays and no noise at weekends and evenings top trumps the noise of potential neighbours if you were to move during these times

I live next to a primary school - parking is (as expected) a nightmare twice a day. But we don't get anywhere near the level of noise the OP is getting - the only time I really notice the noise is now, when we have all our doors and windows open and they are clearly holding their sports days and once when there was a massive thunderclap during playtime and you should have heard the screams!

First and I think it's wonderful the children are getting proper outside time to burn off some energy

Actually it’s a parents job - children should be in school learning - many teachers use it as an excuse not to teach and there’s no lessons planned or learning being done - been there done that for 10 years!

Second - you have a right to peaceful enjoyment for your home - why not get some noise readings?

'Should you not be at work'? The OP might be 70. They might be significantly disabled. They might work from home. They might be a cater in their own home. They might be a stay at home parent. What's wrong with you?

Shrieking and screaming during forest school isn't ok and a noise complaint either to the school/council is reasonable. Nothing will be done at all if nobody mentions anything.

There are certain things like morning/afternoon and lunch play time + events like sports day where its totally reasonable for the kids to be making noise which is part and parcel of living next to a school. You get used to that sort of noise if you live by a school.

Source: lived next to a primary school for over 20 years.

It wasn't a forest school then

Some explicit lyrics played very loudly, should work a treat

I think just sell. As you say, once you get the council involved or even formally complain to the school you'll have to declare it. Whether or not you could/should have anticipated it doesn't really matter - it's here now and you hate it.

I think it's really unlikely that it would bother most people to the extent it does you. I would be curious to know if an objective observer would describe it as constant shrieking as as others have said that doesn't sound compatible with the aims of forest school. The fact you find it to be constantly like this presumably across different year groups also is surprising.

I think selling wouldn't be unreasonable because I don't think you're knowingly selling an unliveable home to an unsuspecting person. I think trying to get forest school stopped would be unreasonable and also unlikely to succeed.

Sounds almost like the crazy complaint we got at work this week - that the bells at 9.45am on Sundays were disturbing them ... it's a church! They rented an adjoining property (owned by the church) 2 months ago and the church is over 200 years old. We've pinned it on the board as an example of stupidity (and left it to the letting agent to tell them they are stupid

I think accept it or move.

YABU. Forest schools are great for kids. My kids old primary had a forest school and did lots to encourage wildlife. They set up cameras to watch the wildlife, certainly plenty of hedgehogs.

@Itsanotherhreatday yes of course teachers use forest school so we don't have to teach anything or plan lessons....

Snore...

A few people have said this - it hasn't become 'a forest school', it's started running some forest school classes which is both common and good practice. The council aren't going to tell them to stop holding forest school. I assume they use the same space all the time because they have stuff set up there. There may be some chance of getting them to move that spot, but it's probably been selected for a reason and it's their land and they're using it for education, it's designated purpose. I think it's incredibly unlikely that the council will agree with the OP that this is unreasonable noise, especially given the very limited and social hours of the noise.

If you think a school can use their grounds however they want then you would be a terrible person to run a school. Banging gongs, outdoor orchestra, screaming in the playground for 6 ours a day, outdoor violin lessons, yelling competitions.... there are many many things a school would be unreasonable doing. But you apparently think it's all fine.

That's not Fiorest School that's just the teachers letting them run wild. Definitely complain.

It will be the holidays soon and you will get some peace.

I don't think you will get anywhere complaining as it's a reasonable thing for a school to do.

As it has always been a school, I don’t think you could argue that it was change of use. I think you are being unreasonable.

Sell the house. Not much point in getting into correspondence- this would need to be declared during legals. Personally I’d keep very quiet, list the house and tell agents you can only do weekend or evening viewings!

@gogohmm not a comparison though is it - you said yourself, the bells have been there a few hundred years. The OP has only just started experiencing this.

O.P, I sympathise. I work in a school and its not ok. But if people think the school can make as much noise as they want on their property, then so can you.
Enjoy your music O.P!

Or the school and neighbours can make a noise complaint. Why would an entire school who have obviously trained or employed a forest school lead stop because of a noisy neighbour?

Forest School is supposed to give children the chance to learn about the natural world, and respecting wildlife.
I know lots of people who teach Forest School and Forest Kindergarten groups - screaming and shouting is NOT the norm - and is kinda contrary to the ethos of being wildlife-friendly (and having all the usual therapeutic effects for the children taking part)
I would question what exactly the school are running, and what training the adults involved have had. Teachers are normally good at managing groups and don't tend to let whole classes scream and shout at length.

I wouldn't like it, but I can't see any way round it, other than noise cancelling out headphones. I looked at buying a property near a school once, and to be honest, I assumed the 'children noise' would be at break times only, but perhaps not. Things have changed in recent times with much emphasis on outdoor learning so I guess school outside areas will be more noisy through much of the day.

I haven't read all the posts, I would have thought the noise would carry to the house with the house windows being open during good weather.

I certainly wouldn't make any more complaints, they will not help, and may cause a problem for you if you decide to sell. Disputes with neighbours have to be disclosed, but who knows what else might have to be disclosed in the future. You really don't want to highlight the problem, okay some people might not be bothered by 'children noise', but a fair few will.

@Sugargliderwombat but why would the school complain? It's a two way street. The forest school session does not trump OPs need to not listen to the screaming.
What would the complaint from the school look like?

Exactly the reason I’d never live backing onto (or indeed in the roads immediately surrounding) a school

I will add that if a wide curriculum is being followed, there should be some quieter times during forest school time. There must be a need for quiet forest school activities as well as noisy ones!

Schools are allowed to use their grounds, the OP can't blast music all day. What if a neighbour doesn't mind children playing but doesn't want blaring music?