An enchanting Swedish approach to outdoor learning at a leading private school in the North East of England is teaching future generations to cherish their natural environment.
Skogsmulle, a unique Early Years pedagogy developed in Sweden, has been adopted by Dame Allan’s Schools to inspire young children to learn about nature through fairy tales and adventure as they play outdoors.
The niche approach has enriched teaching at the independent school, which has an extensive outdoor learning site including a woodland classroom, yurt and pond area within its grounds in Fenham, Newcastle.
Skogsmulle centres around a fictional forest character, Mulle, dressed in a moss-green suit and a birch-bark pointed hat, who is designed to capture children’s imaginations as they explore the outside world.
Early years teacher Gill Williams, who trained to become a Skogsmulle leader at Sweden’s original Rain or Shine Forest School, is responsible for embedding the philosophy into Dame Allan’s curriculum.
“We introduce our pupils to Mulle in Early Years, at the ages of three and four, then he becomes a key part of our learning in Key Stage 1 when the children are the perfect age to engage with a fantasy character,” explained Gill.
“‘They believe that he is actually a creature from the woods and they empathise with the fairy tale behind him. It is an incredible child-led approach that not only allows children to be outdoors having fun, but enables them to deepen their knowledge of the world around them.”
Skogsmulle was created in Sweden by Gösta Frohm in the 1950s, with the intention of bringing children closer to forests and fields, and teaching them to respect nature. The concept is now used extensively throughout Scandinavia, Germany, and Japan.
Dame Allan’s is one of a small, but growing number of UK schools recognising the benefits of the practice to its younger pupils.
The school’s outdoor learning site includes a large camp area, mud kitchen and story chair, as well as the Whispering Woods, which is home to a plentiful number of woodland animals, birds and mini-beasts.
Last year the pond was redeveloped with funding from the Dame Allan’s Schools Parents Association.
Outdoor learning continues throughout Junior School, with two members of staff trained to Level 3 Forest School qualifications.
Gill said: “Forest school is slightly different to Skogsmulle in that naturally, children move on from imaginative play to learning with an inquisitive mind.
“As they get slightly older, learning outdoors allows them to develop skills, build resilience and improve their wellbeing and mental health. Forest school brings new challenges and instils a healthy relationship with the natural world.”
Dame Allan’s outdoor and leadership education continues after forest school at the Senior School with opportunities for climbing, canoeing and mountain walking.
Gill added: “We are teaching our children to love the great outdoors and respect their environment from a very early age so that they will continue to cherish it for the rest of their lives, generation after generation.”
Dame Allan’s is hosting its Nursery and Junior School open morning on Saturday (18th) – to register an interest and learn more about its early years teaching please visit www.dameallans.co.uk.