OUTDOOR education is proving to be a breath of fresh air for young leaners.
Children at Wykeham Primary School and Hackness Primary School, near Pickering, are spending hours a day outside even when studying maths and English.
Recently appointed by the Topcliffe-based Elevate Multi Academy Trust, executive headteacher Rowena Thorp believes connecting with nature boosts brain development in countless ways.
“I trained in early years education and came to understand child development and the value of spending time outside every day,” she said.
“We have a forest school, have been working with a wildlife expert and been on a farm visit. But the aim now is to drip-feed it through our day to day learning, such as maths and English. It is what children need, they need to be outside, to connect with nature.”
The forest school is linked to the curriculum. So when it was time to study the Great Fire of London, staff helped children build a mini replica of the capital city, which was then set ablaze in the fire pit so they could watch how it spread from building to building, bringing history to life.
KS2 children have been using their shelter building skills to design an outdoor prayer space in RE making learning engaging and fun.
“And we do this right throughout the year, from the coldest days of winter to the glorious days of the summer,” Mrs Thorp said. “We just dress appropriately – the children’s wellies virtually live here – and get out there and the children love it.
“Both schools are in such a gorgeous and beautiful setting and while many schools might do this in Reception we continue it right through.”
Playtime is also enriched with children using crates, decking planks and tyres to make obstacle courses and dens. “This allows them to be creative, to work collaboratively and co-operatively, which has such a positive impact on the whole school community,” she said.
“It sees older children working with younger ones using imaginative play. The Year 6 play leaders set up games for the children and lead them on the playground. This helps them develop their leadership skills and builds self-confidence, acting as role models to the younger pupils.”
Residential trips to Bewerley Park Centre For Outdoor Education, near Harrogate, bring pupils from Wykeham and Hackness together in a range of activities.
“This widens their social circles and prepares them for secondary school,” Mrs Thorp said. “They also come together for PE and when they meet up they greet each other like long-lost friends. We bring the children together for an annual music concert at Hackness Village Hall as well and our choirs take part in Young Voices at Sheffield Arena – it’s magical.”