Youngsters at Harbertonford Primary are enjoying regular Forest School sessions to help boost their mental health after enduring two years of disruption caused by the Covid pandemic.

In a bid to improve pupils self-esteem and to give them the chance to learn new life skills and connect with nature, the school has ensured every class enjoys three Forest School sessions each term.

The sessions enable the children to explore different ideas, work in a different way and tap into a range of skills they may not be able to explore in the usual classroom setting.

Elena Pike, Forest School lead, said: “As a school we realise that the past two years have had a significant impact on all the members of our community, so we are responding in a positive way.

“Forest School sessions allow us to introduce new ideas, encourage the children to connect with the natural world and explore a range of life skills.

“For many children who might be struggling with academic work at this point in time, it provides an opportunity for them to experience success and boost their self-esteem.

“We teach them new skills, allow them to work with a range of resources and give them the freedom to discover how far these will take them.

“An added bonus is to know that teachers are using the time we have created really proactively to ensure that children’s academic opportunities are maximised to the full.”