Forest School and Autism: A Practical Guide

Description: Forest School’s innovative outdoor approach offers specific benefits to learners with autism, including increased social skills, raised self-esteem and improved sensory function. This guide raises autism awareness amongst practitioners by providing practical and easy-to-follow advice for adapting Forest School activities for those with autism. For those coming from a mainstream Forest School background, the author offers an introduction to autism and shows what Forest School can offer people with autism – both children and adults – with first-person accounts that highlight its success with this group. The guide gives advice on the social and sensory benefits, offers practical advice on safety and on how to set up a Forest School and finally presents specific activities to be incorporated into practitioners’ routines.

Review: This is an important book that fills an existing gap between forest school practitioners and autistic people and those who support them. James draw on his vast personal experience to connect these two communities in a brilliantly honest, practical and person-centred way — Alison Oldfield, Senior teaching associate, University of Bristol I was newly informed, challenged, provoked and importantly made to chuckle through the book. I hope this ends up on all Forest School, indeed any outdoor, practitioner’s shelves, and in their hands! This should be seen as part of more autistic inclusive discussions within the whole learning sector. — Jon Cree – Director and founding chair of the Forest School Association, also Training and Alternative Curriculum Co-ordinator for FSC Bishops Wood Centre

Contents: Introduction; 1. What is Forest School?; 2. What is Autism?; 3. The Benefits of Forest School; 4. Preparation! Preparation! Preparation!; 5. Communication; 6. Social Interaction; 7. Forest School and the Sensory Environment; 8. Staying Safe; 9. Setting Up a Forest School; 10. Forest School Activities; Resources