Forest schools?

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I was wondering if anyone could please explain the difference of a forest school to that of standard schools please.
My dd1 is 9 and currently in a mainstream faith school but after a echp it's been decided a specialised school will be more suited. She does have sn and is still waiting for an assessment for add.
There is a meeting next week with the head of a school where they think she will better suited. I have googled the school and it seems a really nice school but it states it's a forest school and I really don't want to go into this meeting feeling ignorant also are there any questions I should be asking?

Forest Schools is an a teaching methodology involving loads of outdoor learning forestschools.com/

Sometimes it means that all learning takes place outside in all weathers but often it means that they will spend alot of time outside as well as inside.

In terms of questions I would be asking about how much time they spend indoors/outdoors, how they manage bad weather, how they would react if your child was unhappy outdoors,

They can often be great for children with ADD as it is less structured and more 'free flow' than a traditional classroom setting.

Will you have to provide appropriate clothing or do they?

What happens if a child can't 'cope' being outside for long times?

I would agree that it's often a better environment - but I wouldn't have enjoyed it as a child - I have a level 1 forest school qualification now but I struggled being outside (too hot/too cold) as a child

I also think learning outcomes are dramatically improved for some children but like all teaching styles it won't suit everyone

Maybe ask if your daughter can have a tester day? How is your daughter on the whole for being outside? Some kids love being outside some hate it? Forrest schools generally try to be outside as much as possible and foster a hands on/applied approach to learning than board work in the class room.

My dad goes forest school clSss at school (one day a week) and loves it

They do singing, cooking over the fire, team building activity challenges, stories, make hot drinks

It all depends on the weather she has recently been diagnosed with sensory issues and along with adhd and odd they now feel they need to do an asd assessment. Her ears are the biggest problem if they get slightly cold then she complains of really bad earache. She's had her ears covered all day with her ear defenders and a hat when she's been outside but still needed Calpol as she was in a lot of pain.
I'm going to write these questions down so thank you so much
As for the taster day I don't think that's going to be likely the school is over 20 miles away and if the head teacher thinks she will fit it I've been told she will be starting in the January term. Reading that back it does sound harsh and as much as I love dd1 she is very hard work and her current school have really struggled with her. She was red lighted for permant exclusion but the school have stuck it out with her until something better suited her came up.

I imagine that the school will take the children out for forest school sessions as part of their curriculum. Probably one session a week. I am a trained forest school leader for children 2-18. The activities will be planned according to age/ability of the children, they may mirror what's being taught in the classroom or maybe totally different. For nursery/reception children it would be things like digging, looking for 'treasure' in the mud, making bird feeders, building shelters, making popcorn and cooking on a fire. These activities are expanded and advanced depending on their age and ability. Older children will be taught how to use tools safely and correctly.

From my experience I have never known a child not to enjoy forest school. A few children may find it difficult for the first few sessions but with sensitivity and easing them in gradually they grow to love it. If this is being offered as part of a SEN school the leaders and staff will know how to handle the situation if a child is not keen.

I think you need to ask if the forest school area is on site or if and how they travel to the area. Do you need to provide the clothing or does the school? And how they deal with situations where children are not keen or have sensory issues.

Thank you I will definitely put them on my list. I know once settled she'd love the nature based things as during the periods of exclusion we would do a bit if reading writing and math based things at home then go to the local parks looking and the flowers and trees that was there then researching them when we got back and she loved doing that.

Would it come across badly if I asked how they would deal with her if she had a meltdown while outside? She becomes really aggressive during these episodes and if outside she will bolt and has been known to climb fences and a wall to try and escape the school she's at now.

Great question

How will they ensure both her and everyone elses safety when she is outside?

How will they provide space for her to chill if she needs a bit of quiet time?

Will withdrawal of forest school time be used as a sanction?

I think that's a really valid and good question to ask. I used to be really against specialist SEN schools, until I spent time in them. I know I can't speak for them all and there will be good and bad, but generally the ones I have been in are fantastic. Staff are trained to deal with children having a meltdown and other behaviour that would be frowned upon in main stream school. I think because staff would have had specialist training and deal with these things daily, they are so much more capable and it just becomes part of the day rather than a huge event.

I have experience with non forest sn schools as my ds2 is in a sn high school and I can't fault it at all it really is a fabulous school. When I was told a couple of months ago that dd2 would be needing a sn primary I thought I was prepared. I was told it would be more likely she would move to one in September but it's all moved really quickly this time around. With ds2 it took fighting for it all the way through primary and he was only granted the provision for high school. His needs are more complex so the shock of how quickly this has happened and not knowing fully what a forest school is has sent me into a bit of a free fall panic.
My goal at the moment is just making sure this is the best setting and not looking like a completely ignorant idiot to someone who I'm going to be working with for the next 2 and a half years .
I'm not going to get the chance to visit the school like I did with ds2 so I won't have the reassurance of seeing the school at work so to speak but at the same time I don't want to come across as being pushy if that makes any sence.

http://forestschools.com/what-are-forest-schools/

Just wanted to pop back on and say thank you again for the replies. I met with the headmaster and he seemed really nice and friendly and answered all the questions I asked. He met dd2 and spent a few mins observing her.
He emailed her current school and she starts in January after a staged transition of around 2 weeks. I had said to him I was concerned about her moving and it being an abrupt end of term at one school and start a new term in a new school as she has self esteem issues and had gotten it into her head school hated her and just wanted rid. The fact he listened to that and also reassured me when outside there will be enough staff on had to be near her incase she has a meltdown has me feeling better about the move. So thank you again I'm don't think I would have been as prepared with questions with out your help