In this episode, Lewis and Gemma dive deep into the layered reality of planning in Forest School. From laminated resources to spontaneous spoon carving, they discuss the contrast between top-down educational planning and the responsive, cyclical, seasonal approach required in outdoor settings. With honesty and humour, they unpack what planning actually looks like when you’re working in tune with the land, the seasons, and the children.

They explore:

• Seasonal planning as a flexible framework

• How plans are shaped by group dynamics and practitioner energy

• Why having personal projects matters for adult well-being and modelling

• The risks of overplanning and ignoring the moment

• Discord as a digital shed for ideas

• Sound, space, and permission in play settings

• Why not cajoling is a radical act

If you've ever asked yourself, “Is this planning or just wishful thinking?” this one’s for you.

🎧 Listen on:
www.theforestschoolpodcast.com

⏱ Chapter Timings
00:17 – Caffeine, deer, and the joys of planning
01:22 – Planning as a vacuum: it fills the space you give it
02:18 – Sticking to plans vs reading the room
03:26 – Secondary school behaviour and rigid lessons
04:18 – Laminated resources and knowing when to drop it
04:56 – CGP Grey’s fake tangents and performance teaching
05:35 – Planning now: seasonal bags of opportunities
06:25 – When nature—not us—says no
07:09 – Reflective, responsive planning after sessions
07:38 – Concentric gears: from term-time to woodland management
08:55 – Cyclical Forest School vs linear education
09:51 – Missing moments and getting a second chance
10:48 – Verbal planning with trusted co-workers
11:39 – Using Discord as a planning hub
12:50 – Low-pressure suggestions and letting go of outcomes
13:48 – Soft skills, time, and space in planning
14:39 – Storytelling, consent, and not forcing group time
15:58 – Participation as a choice, not a requirement
17:28 – Not cajoling: why it matters and how it feels
18:31 – Music as interruption or offer?
20:33 – Who has the right to break play cycles?
21:38 – Sound, consent, and sensory imposition
22:39 – Modelling participation without demands
24:19 – Parents modelling adult autonomy
25:18 – Competency models and ZPD
26:31 – What adults can model in play
27:27 – Planning for complex, long-term groups
28:59 – Carving spoons and the value of adult projects
30:36 – Why projects help children see adults differently
32:13 – Planning when children want something else
33:10 – Adult projects as modelling, not dominance
34:52 – Invitation vs control
35:48 – Long-term projects and who gets to take them home
36:57 – Next week: Evolutionary Playwork by Bob Hughes

✨ SEO Keywords
Forest School planning, seasonal planning for educators, outdoor play curriculum, responsive planning in early years, child-led learning outdoors, Discord for educator teams, Forest School reflective practice, long-term projects in outdoor education, CGP Grey teaching, playworker autonomy, adult modelling in play

📌 Hashtags
#ForestSchoolPodcast #ForestSchoolPlanning #ChildLedLearning #OutdoorEducation #ReflectivePractice #NatureBasedLearning #PlayWork #SeasonalPlanning #TeacherBurnout #EducatorWellbeing #SoftSkills #ZPD #BobHughes #PlanningWithPurpose

🎁 Sponsors & Support
This episode is sponsored by:
🌳 TENTSILE – Get 10% off your tree tent with code ForestChildren10
🌿 Chris Holland’s Plant Guide – 54-page illustrated download with 10% off using code ForestSchoolPodcast
➡ Shop via our affiliate link: https://chrisholland.myshopify.com/?ref=ForestSchoolPodcast

💌 Contact & Support
Send your thoughts to: [email protected]
Support us at: www.patreon.com/theforestschoolpodcast
All episodes: www.theforestschoolpodcast.com

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