The Health and Safety service has written new guidance for operating Forest Schools at their sites. It covers the principles of forest schools, risks, fire pit and fire safety, tool use and a health and safety checklist.

Forest Schools should use tools and fires only where deemed appropriate to the learners, and dependent on completion of a risk assessment. The experiences follow a risk–benefit process managed jointly by the practitioner and learner that is tailored to the developmental stage of the learner.

Forest School Leaders plan sessions that offer opportunities for participants to take risks. To manage this, Forest School Leaders create and maintain records, policies and procedures that allow them to be confident in offering supported risk-taking opportunities. The paperwork should include:
• A site risk assessment
• Daily risk assessment
• Risk-benefit assessments
• A stated approach to dynamic risk-assessment

Useful contacts:

Health & Safety Service email: CHSU@somerset.gov.uk
SC Fire Safety Team email: scfiresafety@somerset.gov.uk

Learn more:
Somerset Council Outdoor Education Advice
What is Forest School? | Forest School Association
School Tree Safety Guidance