Outdoor Learning
At Burpham Primary School, we believe passionately that all children should have access to high quality Outdoor Learning. We know that learning need not take place solely within the classroom. Outdoor time often provides the most memorable learning experiences and helps children to make sense of the world around them by putting their learning into a meaningful context. Additional, being outdoors has a positive impact on children’s sense of well-being. It offers opportunities for exploring learning in different ways and on different scales than when indoors. It gives children first-hand contact with weather, seasons and the natural world and offers them freedom to explore, use their senses and be physically active.
We are fortunate to have a large outside space that has a wildlife area, a pond, a hard play area (MUGA), raised beds and a campfire circle. This means that not only are we able to frequently teach and learn outside but our children are able to take part in outdoor activities throughout the year.
Our children enjoy building dens, mini-beast hunting and spending time in nature during break times. But it doesn't stop there - we have frequent dedicated outdoor learning lessons and class teachers take learning outdoors whenever they feel it will be more effective than in the classroom. This includes off-site educational trips, encompassing visits to museums, churches, theatres, parks, woodland areas and the local area. This means when a child leaves us, they should have experienced wide-ranging outdoor skills which will have helped them increase in confidence, maturity and self-esteem.
Being outdoors is a proven way to improve your mental wellbeing. As a school, we believe above all that it is our duty to help children develop the skills they need to be resilient, well-rounded and healthy members of society. By instilling the values of Outdoor Learning and Forest Schools, we are helping our children take care of their own mental and physical wellbeing, by allowing them to explore independence, challenge and problem solving.
Benefits of Outdoor Learning:
Brings learning alive
Supports children’s physical and mental development
Increases confidence and self-esteem
Supports creativity and problem-solving
Increases attention and concentration
Improves nutrition
Increases pupil engagement in learning
Improves self-discipline
Reduces stress
Improves academic performance
Increases motivation and resilience
Adds depth to the curriculum
Lets children be children
All children at Burpham are lucky enough to have dedicated Outdoor Learning sessions for at least half a term each year, as well as getting outside in lessons across the curriculum. Below, explore the photos of some of our incredible experiences so far this academic year.
Summer 2022 -2022
Did you know that thousands of seeds have been planted around The Tower of London to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. There are also schools up and down the country growing beautiful flowers to help attract bees as part of the Jubilee Superbloom project and we feel very proud and excited to be a part of it! Our strong Year 1s have been helping to set up our special Jubilee project! This summer, every class in the school has a blue, white or red tyre, which forms part of the number 70. Everyone has had a chance to plant some seeds to celebrate 70 years of the queen's reign. We can't wait to see our Jubilee plants starting to bloom!
Winter 2021 - 2022
Even in the coldest months, we love learning outdoors. In these photos you can see Year 1 exploring the seasons, Year 2 exploring their design skills and Year 5 working as a team and even toasting marshmallows over the fire!
Autumn 2021
In these photos, Year 1 are busy being creative with natural materials as they learn about human bodies, Year 2 are investigating some of the plants that grew up over the summer holidays and Year 6 are exploring the Wildlife Area with their different senses and are baking their own bread over a fire.
Helpful Websites
We have put together a selection of websites and ideas to support you in getting children out and about
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/
http://www.thewildnetwork.com/
http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/kids-in-nature/
In the press
Great article in the Guardian with 32 super ideas!
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2013/oct/25/tips-get-kids-outdoors
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/why-should-children-play-outside
Useful Documents
| Name | |
|---|---|
| Learning Outside the Classroom Policy.docx | Download |