Outdoor Learning

We feel very lucky that at Chobham all children will take part in a variety of outdoor learning lessons over the year. A member of our staff is a qualified Forest School Leader, and supports us in these lessons, which will be held in the local area or in the Academy grounds.

What is Outdoor learning?

This is an exciting opportunity for children to have lessons in the outdoor environment linking in social skills and a variety of learning opportunities to support children’s wellbeing and their lessons.

These sessions will provide teaching and learning opportunities, which will include time and space to develop skills and positive relationships with the natural world. They encourage curiosity and increase children’s self-confidence, resilience and self-esteem. Through providing these experiences we aim to:

• Provide creative and exciting opportunities for all learners
• Enhance academic success for all our children
• Provide a language rich environment
• Develop children who are resilient when faced with new challenges
• Develop self-esteem and self-confidence via practical learning experiences
• Encourage collaboration and support through positive peer partnerships
• Develop an inquisitive and positive relationship with the natural world
• Respect each other and the world around us.

When will it take place?

Nursery and Reception take part in Nature Nurture lessons throughout the school year.

Year 1- 6 take part in Science in Nature days, Outdoor Classroom days and Forest School days at varying points cross the year, every year. These take place in the school day and link their learning in science and other subjects to the local environment and the world around them. Look out for your year group letter to find out when these will take place.

What does my child need to wear on these days/lessons?

They will ALWAYS need to bring into school clothes to change into:

• Long sleeved top and jumper
• Tracksuits bottoms
• Socks (above the ankle in length) – these should not be school socks in case they get wet so that children have dry socks to change into
• Old trainers or wellies that may get wet and muddy

Your child WILL get dirty, so please only send your child to school in clothes that you don’t mind getting muddy.

If it is cold/ wet, they will also need:

• Waterproof coat
• Waterproof trousers if they have them
• Wellies if they have them (Wellies are good at keeping feet dry but not very good at keeping feet warm unless you have a few pairs of socks on.)

Lots of layers are more effective than a single thicker layer in terms of protecting from the cold.)

If it is hot and sunny, they will also need:

• If it is sunny please apply sunscreen before your child comes to school
• A sun hat

What else do we do to enhance our curriculum and our environment?

We provide opportunities for children to garden and grow vegetables throughout the year. The children take the vegetables to the kitchen which helps them understand where food comes from.

We have also been planting bulbs, wildflowers and trees in our nature nook, to enhance the children’s learning experiences and develop our Forest School area. We can wait to see how these develop over the coming seasons and years.

Our Eco Warriors are looking for further opportunities to look after our environment. Their vision is:

Due to the amazing work the children have been doing, we have been able to submit evidence to win two different awards. We currently hold a certificate for the RHS campaign for school gardening at level three. We also managed to achieve a bronze award in the RSPB wild challenge and this year we are now working towards the silver.