Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning experiences are often remembered for a lifetime. Integrating learning and outdoor experiences, whether in our immediate grounds or adventures further afield, provides relevance and depth to our curriculum in ways that are difficult to achieve indoors. Learning outdoors is enjoyable, fun, creative, challenging and adventurous and helps children learn by experience. At Bolshaw we believe that outdoor learning helps children grow into confident and responsible citizens who value and appreciate the natural environment; helping them to make sense of the world around them by putting their learning into a meaningful context.

Miss Brown, our Headteacher is passionate about children learning outdoors and experiencing first hand what their environment has to offer them. As a farmers daughter she was fortunate enough to grow up in a farming environment and it was in her early childhood that a love for the outdoors began. Having been supported by children, staff and parents over the last few years she is determined to continue to improve and develop our school grounds so children have as many opportunities as possible to learn outside the classroom.

All children throughout the year are involved in ‘School Grounds’ days to help improve our outside learning opportunities and parents and members of the community are always invited to get involved. Please let us know if you are willing to help in any way. The gift of your time is as important as any talent you might bring.

As part of our school improvement plan we are committed to ensuring that all our classrooms allow for secure indoor-outdoor freeflow education, so that outdoor learning will soon be accessible to all children throughout their school day from Reception to Year 6.

Recent studies have highlighted many benefits of outdoor learning for children:

• higher levels of conversational language.
• greater independence.
• improved health and sleeping patterns.
• greater physical competence and agility.
• improved time focus on activities and more concentration.
• a greater understanding of nature and the environment.
• improved social skills, involvement and initiative.