Outdoor Learning at Petersgate
‘The use of places other than the classroom for teaching and learning.’
At Petersgate Infant School we are blessed with the most beautiful school grounds for our children to explore, climb and learn in. As a school, we believe that outdoor learning is an integral part of the curriculum for all children.
We combine and use the pedagogical approaches of :
- learning outdoors (classroom learning transferred to outside i.e writing outside under a tree)
- learning with the outdoors (natural environment becomes the teaching resource i.e using our pond for science learning)
- learning through the outdoors (exploring, observing and having first hand experiences with wildlife or understanding seasonal change)
See diagram below (source: Hampshire Outdoors).
All of our staff have been trained by Hampshire Outdoors to deliver bespoke outdoor learning, which can include den building, bug hunts, aspect of camp/bush craft and identifying creatures and trees, for example.
Your child will learn all about the natural environment, how it is nurtured, how it is sustained and our role in protecting, learning and enjoying our natural world. This is a fundamental part of our Sustainability and Climate Change action plan (see link on our website) and our pledge for children to understand about the natural world, the impact we can have on our environment and a move to a more biodiverse and less polluted environment in which to learn and connect with nature.
As a school, we fully understand and believe that being out in nature and being outside is fundamental to a child’s emotional and mental health and well-being. The delivery of our outdoor learning sessions has helped in supporting the children’s resilience (one of our key SCARF values), independence, problem solving skills and communication, whilst helping them to feel calmer. Being outside also gives them the opportunity to explore their emotions and how to respond to them. This reflects our SCARF Values and our Zones of Regulation. Our Well-being and Life Skills Lead then delivers bespoke sessions for smaller groups where she further develops key skills and/or knowledge about the natural world using a nurturing approach.
The benefits of Outdoor Learning is further illustrated in the diagram below:
Evidence from the Natural Connections Project (2012-2016) used the following model of the academic benefits of outdoor learning.
Useful apps for outdoor learning:
