Tree Climbing Policy
This policy aims to set out Stock Wood Outdoor Centre’s stance on tree climbing, in terms of pedagogy and safety.
Why is tree climbing important?
Stock Wood Outdoor Centre greatly values experiential learning. Allowing children to find their own limits regarding physical movement in a safe environment with supportive adults allows them to develop a healthy relationship with their own bodies and an understanding of their capabilities.
Too often, children in modern society either run headlong into risks without assessing them first or fail to extend their experiences for fear of taking risks. A sterile learning and play environment which is devoid of risks has the potential to exacerbate this problem, offering few opportunities to learn from risk-taking. Many organisations have urged schools and councils to reverse the trend towards risk-free playgrounds for these very reasons. (For examples, see: ROSPA’s campaign of ‘As much as necessary, not as much as possible’; Go For IT Awards for adventurous play; Sir Digby Jones’ paper ‘Cotton Wool Kids’).
We need to navigate a sensible balance between allowing children to take risks but ensuring we are taking our safety responsibilities seriously. Tree climbing provides an opportunity to allow children to learn to manage and assess risk. It also provides children with an opportunity to genuinely overcome fear – a metaphor for other encounters with fear in later life. Tree climbing embodies the above issues. In the last 30 years it has become rare to see children climbing trees. In fact, it is common to see parents berating their children for getting muddy in the park, let alone climbing a tree. It is important for us to provide an environment that facilitates real play.
Risks
As with any climbing on playground equipment, climbing trees can entail significant risks, resulting in injury or death. Factors increasing risks associated with tree climbing include:
· Climbing above hard surfaces such as stone paths and fences
· Climbing in areas out of sight of a supervising adult
· Taking ropes or other equipment up a tree
· Lack of education for children about tree-climbing risks
· Fighting or dangerous play at height
· Climbing on weak branches (i.e. thinner than pupil’s thigh)
Requirements to manage risks
The laws of England and Wales require that employers assess risks and put measures in place to control them (e.g. Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999).
Measures undertaken to address risks
· Climbing areas should not be surface-dressed in any way (e.g. with woodchip). Surface-dressing introduces a significant risk in itself by insulating the root system and thereby infecting the roots, weakening the tree and increasing the likelihood of the tree collapsing. Instead, risks will be minimised by regular education, good supervision and clear rules.
· The site has undergone a safety inspection by a qualified Arborist. The site is risk assessed with dead branches systematically removed. Especially around the lower parts of a tree where children may wish to climb.
· Safe tree-climbing is modelled by the Forest School Leader in the children’s first Forest School session and safe climbing is reinforced in following sessions, with the aim of helping children enjoy the activity and becoming good at perceiving and managing risks themselves:
- The Rule of Three
There are four points on your body that come in contact with the tree's branches: two hands and two feet. At least three of these points should be supported by branches at all times. [Reason: If one of the three branches breaks, then at least two branches will still be supporting you.]
- Keep Close to the Trunk
Always step onto or grab a branch at the point closest to the tree's trunk. [Reason: This is where the branch can support the most weight.]
- Stay off the Dead
Avoid using dead branches when climbing. If you must use a dead branch, be sure to follow the "Keep Close to the Trunk" rule. [Reason: Dead branches can easily snap; living branches will bend before they break.]
- Test Weak Branches
If you're not sure if a branch will support your weight, test it out by stepping on it (or grabbing it) at a point far away from the tree's trunk. Be sure that you follow the Rule of Three as you do this. If it passes the test, then step on it (or grab it) at a point close to the trunk.
- If It Doesn't Feel Right, Don't Do It
If for any reason you feel uncomfortable with what you're doing, then stop.
· Adults maintain supervision – more regular for younger children, especially in their first few Forest School sessions.
· Children must check that the ground is clear of any sharp dangers and that any hoods are tucked in.
· Children should climb with a partner visible and aware so one child may fetch an adult if another gets into any difficulties.
· Children must climb within their capabilities, being aware that coming down can be much harder than getting up (expectation of max. height for younger children is 1.5m and for older children approx. 2.5m).
· The rule of 3 points of contact must be adhered to.
· Children must not climb into neighbouring trees, over the pond or other water features or onto branches thinner than the diameter of their thigh.
· Rope and other materials must not be taken up into trees.
· Yew trees must not be climbed as ingesting their leaves or seeds may prove extremely harmful or even fatal.
· Supervising adults may exercise their judgment to intervene if they deem it appropriate to do so.
References
Department for Education (2009) Guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage in Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Settings.
Sir Digby Jones (2007) Cotton Wool Kids. Issues Paper 7. Releasing the potential for children to take risks and innovate. http://www.hti.org.uk/pdfs/pu/IssuesPaper7.pdf
HTI (2011) Go For It Awards. http://www.hti.org.uk/leadership-development/pupil-voice/go4it
ROSPA (2013) Playground safety inspections.
Simon Shackleton (2013) Report on Playground Safety, Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School.
Wicksteed Playscapes (2008) An essential guide to BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177. Children’s Playground Equipment and Surfacing.