Urban Forest Schools: Designing-in play to urban environments for health and wellbeing

This programme development grant (PDG) is designed to pave the way for a highly innovative intervention and associated evaluation called Urban Forest Schools (UFS).

Current densification of the built environment, intense sedentary habits, coupled with the impact of restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, mean urban children s wellbeing and physical health is at risk from lack of play and physical activity especially outdoors.

The UFS intervention is inspired by the Scandinavian Forest Schools model, which immerses children in natural, green environments, and allows them free rein to play and be active, on a regular basis, but takes the urban environment as the starting point.

Using the same principle of immersive regular visits to dedicated urban spaces, the UFS promotes the formation of a durable habit of physically active free play and incidental physical activity through familiarisation with the space. The intervention will target children aged 3-7-years old and will be delivered by primary schools.

We will work with regeneration teams and civil society stakeholders in both Bradford and Tower Hamlets (TH) to influence policy and environment and design-in' play to regenerating places, ensuring the suitability of sites for children s physical activity, play and the delivery of the UFS programme.

Aims Taking a whole and complex systems approach, the PDG aims to a) investigate how policy and environment can be influenced in regenerating urban areas to design-in' play; b) explore the potential for an UFS programme for 3-7-year olds to be delivered by schools; and c) identity suitable tools for measuring physical activity, play, and wellbeing outcomes of pre-school and primary aged children including those with special educational needs within the school setting and urban environment.

Work packages (WP) WP1: Building on already established local authority and civil society links we will identify current urban regeneration sites and explore the feasibility of influencing policy and the environments.

WP2: Barriers, facilitators and solutions to designing-in' play to urban environments will be explored via: a) a complex systems analysis of intersecting policies impacting uptake of play and physical activity; and b) focus groups and interviews with policy and service leads, school staff, local community members and parents.

WP3: We will identify and test the feasibility and acceptability of child and site outcome measures relevant to play, physical activity and child wellbeing by consulting with children both with and without special educational needs.

WP4: Development of an intervention model and theory of change informed by interviews with school staff from established forest schools, WP2 data, and three co-production workshops with relevant stakeholders Anticipated Impact and Dissemination: Preparatory consultation with local authority and civil society stakeholders support the proposed UFS as it aligns with local strategy.

Study findings will be disseminated locally through known forums such as Active Bradford, Living Well, TH Play Working Group, Regeneration, Children s Services and Public Health. Study findings will be disseminated via the ActEarly network and the JU:MP programme. A protocol paper for Urban Forest Schools and impact on health and wellbeing will be prepared for Wellcome Open.