A growing number of children and young people are experiencing poor mental health. It is important to find ways to support them. A school-based intervention which is inclusive and has the potential for widespread delivery is ‘Forest School’. Forest School provides children with immersive experiences in nature which are non-classroom based and have a core focus on child-led activity and exploration. Despite widespread implementation, evidence about optimal delivery methods of Forest School and the impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing is scarce. This study aims to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled study of Forest Schools in primary schools across England focusing on children within Key Stage 2.
This study will generate new knowledge about the feasibility of running a definitive Forest School trial with Key Stage 2 (KS2) children aged between 7-11, inclusive of children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND). The study seeks to better understand whether Forest School is acceptable to both children and school professionals.