Plans have been submitted for a 'Forest School' as part of a Coalville housing development - with the aim of giving pupils "proven routes to higher success."

An application has been made for a two-form entry primary school and plaza area including playing fields, multi-use games area (MUGA), car parking and associated infrastructure at land off Beveridge Lane.

It would be part of the 2,700 housing development in South East Coalville, which was given outline planning permission in 2016, and would be situated in Swinfen Vale.

South East Coalville comprises of two main regions, Hugglescote Grange and Swinfen Vale, which is within the Parish of Ellistown and Battleflat and forms the southern side of the development between the River Sence and Beverridge Lane, bounded by the rail line along the eastern edge and the former railway embankment to the west.

Developers Harworth Group has put together a Justification Statement for North West Leicestershire District Council as part of the planning application.

Included in the report, Lungfish Architects has added further details and background of the proposed new school in a design statement, and says the idea behind it has its roots in Scandinavia.

The statement says: "Coalville Forest School is proposed to be built within the National Forest.

Plans for the new school have been submitted to North West Leicestershire Distrcit Council

"It is a bespoke design, encouraging the personal growth and development of the students that attend the Two Form Entry School.

"Originating in Scandinavia, forest schools are based on the philosophy that education is formed on play and activity, whilst creativity is nurtured through self-activity and investigation.

"The children have an extended opportunity to learn both inside and outside the classroom, in specially designed teaching pavilions, which include outdoor classrooms, inspiring a generation to learn from the world around them.

"The massing of the building, further builds upon these key features - maximising the engagement and learning opportunity of the children, giving proven routes to higher success.

"The classroom bases, where children spend a significant amount of time, have been designed to ensure the volume is engaging, dynamic, naturally lit and naturally ventilated.

"In addition to the sustainable approach to the building design noted above the school will also generate approximately 10 per cent of its own electrical requirements through the installed solar panel system."

The report also outlines The Principles of Forest Schools:

• A safe woodland setting that is constantly monitored for its ecological impact and operates within a sustainable site management plan;

• A high level of adult supervision; • An outdoor approach to delivering the curriculum (Curriculum for Excellence) with collaboration between learners and practitioners. The holistic development of all those involved, fostering resilient, confident, independent and creative learners.

• Opportunities for exploring freely, being creative and offers learners the opportunity to take supported risks appropriate to the environment and to themselves;

• A long term process of frequent and regular visits to the woodland setting

• Forest School uses natural resources for inspiration, to enable ideas and to encourage intrinsic motivation.

• Forest School is run by qualified Forest School practitioners who continuously maintain and develop their professional practice

• Play and choice are an integral part of the Forest School learning process, and play is recognised as vital to learning and development at Forest School.

The statement goes on: "The proposal consists of six single storey buildings, designed as a series of Pavilions with Hall and Kitchen, Administration, Early Years accommodation linked by way of a cloister.

"In addition one Key Stage One plus two further Key Stage Two teaching blocks located as separate standalone pavilions complete the school facilities.

"The scheme has been developed in conjunction with feedback from various personnel and appointed expert bodies that have reviewed the proposal, having a very thorough understanding of end user requirements.

"The first building, on the Western Corner of the site, is the Main Administration Pavilion that is the 'Mission Control' centre of the school, offering all of the central services plus preparation facilities required by teachers for leading their classes and also to provide respite when not teaching.

"The building also houses a central library accessible to all students.

"The Main Hall and Kitchen Pavilion (East of the Admin Pavilion) provides the school a larger gathering space suitable for lunches plus indoor PE Classes, and Whole School Assemblies.

"The Four Teaching pavilions are organised around groups of four classrooms, offering flexible teaching opportunities through a range of teaching spaces, such as Group Rooms and Shared Learning spaces.

"This flexibility is a highly sought-after feature of many school operators, as flexibility suits a greater variety of students needs.

A plan of the Swinfen Vale site around Beveridge Lane

"For example; those who thrive, better learning within a smaller group, have space to achieve their true potential by more intense teaching afforded by the school architecture."

The school would also be part of a plaza area which the developers say would be an attractive addition to the scheme.

The report adds: . "The carpark, the school playing field and Multi-use Games Area (Muga) are set back behind the school buildings and provide a buffer from the buildings to the neighbouring residential parcels.

"The plaza provides the public reception space to the school and bridges the spaces between the school and the Village Green beyond the Eastern Avenue.

"Within the school site itself, the site is designed to follow the forest school ethos being a series of connected spaces surrounded by heavy landscaping.

"The school development together with the accompanying plaza will be an attractive landmark feature for the Local Quarter and wider development site.

"Given the separation distances between the buildings and the site's boundaries with the surrounding residential parcels, the development will not have an opportunity to appear oppressive, overbearing or dominating to future residents."