This report covers a block of 12 funded Forest School sessions for a child from a family facing significant barriers to access.
Background
This child is 11, home-educated, and has ADHD. Their older sibling has autism. Both children are carers for their physically disabled parent. They are a single-parent family with limited income.
Due to the parent's disability and the child's severe sleep issues linked to ADHD, attending home education groups had been extremely difficult. The child was isolated, with no routine, no regular peer group, and no physical outlet.
Over 12 sessions
The child made friends and became a valued member of the group. They benefitted from having a physical outlet for their energy, and from time away from home and caring responsibilities. The sessions provided something this child hadn't had before: a routine, a stable group of friends, and something to look forward to each week.
The wider family also benefitted. They formed bonds with other families and began spending time together outside of Forest School. For a family that had been struggling in isolation, that wider network was just as significant as the sessions themselves.
In the family's words
The family described the sessions as a "much needed lifeline." Without the funding, they simply could not have accessed Forest School. The financial barrier would have kept them out.
A follow-up application has since been submitted for both children to continue attending.