Forest School
At Ingleton Primary School, we are delighted to offer fortnightly Forest School sessions for all pupils, with weekly sessions for our Reception children. Our talented and fully trained Forest School Leader, Mrs Gardner, has created a truly magical environment in our woodland designed to spark curiosity, nurture independence and develop practical skills.
Forest School offers children a unique opportunity to learn, grow and thrive in the natural environment. Set within our gorgeous on-site woodland, children are fully immersed in nature, where curiosity is encouraged, confidence is built, and learning comes to life beyond the classroom. At a time when children spend much of their school day indoors, seated at their desks, Forest School provides a vital opportunity to move, explore and learn in a practical way. Through hands-on, child-led activities, pupils develop resilience, independence and a deep connection with the natural world.
Mrs Gardner has designed a bespoke curriculum especially for our pupils at Ingleton Primary School. With a strong focus on supporting children’s well-being and fostering a lifelong love of the outdoors, it has already become a hugely valued part of our provision. Pupils regularly tell us, “Forest School is my favourite day of the week!”—a reflection of the joy and engagement these sessions bring.
Our programme is built around the five key areas of Forest School:
Ropes
Children learn to safely use ropes for a variety of purposes, from creating swings and ladders to developing problem-solving skills through knot-tying and simple rigging challenges. These activities promote coordination, teamwork and perseverance.
Shelter Building
Using natural materials and teamwork, pupils design and construct shelters. This encourages creativity, collaboration and an understanding of how to adapt to outdoor environments.
Tool Use
Under careful supervision, children are introduced to tools appropriate for their age and ability. They learn how to handle them safely and responsibly, developing practical skills, focus and respect for equipment.
Fire
Fire lighting and management is a memorable and rewarding part of Forest School. Pupils learn about fire safety, how to build and maintain a fire, and often enjoy cooking simple snacks—building confidence and a sense of responsibility.
Nature
Exploring the woodland environment allows children to observe seasonal changes, discover wildlife and develop an appreciation for the natural world. These experiences nurture curiosity, mindfulness and environmental awareness.
Beyond these activities, Forest School plays a vital role in strengthening relationships. The team-building experiences are fundamental in helping pupils develop trust, communication skills and positive connections with one another. Forest School helps children to thrive at Ingleton Primary School.
Extra-curricular Activities
We offer a wide range of extra curricular activities at Ingleton. As well as sports clubs, we have clubs for keen gardeners, chess players, musicians, writers, computing experts and creative crafters. Some clubs take place after school, while others are held during lunch times. Some run all year, while others change half termly. Read all about our clubs in the termly letter.
PLAYTIME & OUTDOOR LEARNING
Outdoors we are blessed with very attractive grounds which include two playgrounds, extensive fields, a wood, garden, polytunnel and raised beds. We appreciate wonderful views of Ingleborough but our site can be chilly and windy – everyone needs to bring warm, outdoor clothing to school.
Within reason, we do like to embrace all weathers – “There is no such thing as bad weather, just unsuitable clothing!” We do play out in damp weather and we do go sledging on snowy days.
Our youngest pupils access outdoor learning most of the time and our older classes have access to our lovely grounds when appropriate to their learning. We also have outdoor classrooms to enhance our teaching.
SCHOOL SPORT
Here at Ingleton Primary School our aim is for all pupils to enjoy sport and be physically active. We offer a range of sports in PE lessons to enable children to experience a range of activities. These include; football, tag rugby, hockey, netball, basketball, athletics, orienteering, swimming, dance and gymnastics. We work with the local community to employ experienced sports coaches to teach alongside us to give children the best possible experience. We are also lucky to have Mrs Mercer, a PE specialist, to enhance the sporting experiences we offer.
We endeavour to enable all children to enjoy competitive sport at many different levels. We have inter-house competitions within school, which are led by Year 6 house captains and inter-school competitions within the local area. In recent years we have also participated in county level competitions including; North Yorkshire Quad Athletics Finals and the North Yorkshire Cross-country Competition.
In 2024 we achieved the PLATINUM School Games Mark.
