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International Perspectives on Forest School
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International Perspectives on Forest School
Natural Spaces to Play and Learn

Edited by:


September 2013 | 232 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Forest School is now implemented across a wide range of settings both nationally and internationally, and this book explores the global similarities between the Forest School approach and how natural spaces are being used all over the world.

Written by a range of international authors, the text includes perspectives from:

- Sweden

- Portugal

- Brazil

- Germany

- Slovenia

- South Africa

- Australia

- USA and Canada

- India

It considers the impact that global influences have on early learning, and reflects on how the Forest School approach is used in the UK.

With case studies, annotated further reading and points for practice this is a key text for all those studying Early Childhood Studies, Early Years and Primary Education.

Sara Knight is Principal Lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. She is a trained Forest School practitioner and author of Forest Schools For All, Risk and Adventure in Early Years Outdoor Play and Forest School and Outdoor Learning (all published by SAGE).


Sara Knight
The Impact of Forest School on Education for Sustainable Development in the Early Years in England
Jane Waters
Talking in Wild Outdoor Spaces: Children Bringing Their Interests to Their Teachers in Wales
Jochem Schirp and Martin Vollmar
Nature, Adventure and Early Education. A Regional Approach in Germany
Eva Ärlemalm-Hagsér and Anette Sandberg
Outdoor Play in a Swedish Preschool Context
Mojca Kokot Krajnc and Ana Vovk Korže
Increasing Experiential Learning Using Ecoremediations in Slovenia
Aida Figueiredo, Gabriela Portugal, Pedro Sá-Couto and Carlos Neto
Early Outdoor Learning in Portugal
Edson Grandisoli
Building Sustainability through Consumption in Brazil
Theodora Papatheodorou
The 'Veggie Bag' and Its Potential for 'Connected Knowing' – An Experience from a South African Context
Sue Elliott
Play in Nature: Bush Kinder in Australia
Libby Lee-Hammond and Elizabeth Jackson-Barrett
Aboriginal Children’s Participation and Engagement in Bush School
Christian Winterbottom and Vickie E. Lake
Teaching Teachers to Use the Outdoor Environment in the USA
Ithel Jones and Tingting Xu
Health Lessons from Nature in the US
Lori Driussi
Cultivating Canadian Learners – Outside!
Mallika Kanyal
Indian Children’s Perceptions of their School Environment

'With accounts of inspiring practice and research from around the globe, this engaging book shows how Forest School and related approaches are enriching children's learning and deepening their connections with the natural world' -
Tim Gill,
Patron of the Forest School Association



Key issues raised by the book include the different cultural constructs of childhood and education, and how these affect the provision for learning in natural environments. Students, practitioners and scholars in early childhood and wider education will find the text a useful reference. There are points for practice, lucid case studies and useful lists for further reading, which may be difficult to find elsewhere; being able to access international authors and their references in one book is useful.

Mel McCree, Nature Nurseries, Bristol, UK
Early Years: An International Research Journal

A really helpful text to illustrate an English perspective on Forest schools.

Dr Judy Sayers
School of Education, Leeds University
May 15, 2020

Descriptive and current information relevant for current course

Ms liz major
Health Education and Care Department, West Herts College
February 1, 2019

Excellent textbook covering all aspects of Forest School internationally; for use on all ECE and Primary Courses. All students will access this book and tutors can use sections for teaching this popular topic

Dr Chelle Davison
Education, Coventry University Scarborough Campus
May 8, 2018

As we increasingly look to other countries and their education systems for inspiration, this text offers great insight with forest school as its central focus.

Mrs Jo Fletcher-Saxon
Education , Ashton Sixth Form College
June 29, 2016

An inspiring text helping to enthuse and inform practitioners and students. This is an important resource for our students.

Ms Caroline Brooks
Learning and Teaching Institute, Sheffield Hallam University
May 20, 2016

Foundation Degree students looking at the blending of contemporary provisions against the EYFS will find this text informative and useful.

Mrs KAREN SIDDONS
care and early years, Tresham Institute
May 5, 2016

This book is excellent in providing an international perspective on Forest School education.The book covers a range of interesting topics such as Aboriginal Children's Participation and Engagement. This chapter gives and overview of bush school experiences and links to theorists such as Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System Theory. This books also compliments, Forest School for All by Sara Knight.

Miss Jackie Sumner
Childhood & Youth Studies, Edge Hill University
June 23, 2015

I found this book very interesting, having studied educational practices in other countries previously. Whilst the book is brilliant further reading material, and has given me ideas for how to teach my lessons, I wouldn't recommend it to my students.

Mr Michael Smith
Public Services , sgs college
May 18, 2015

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