Learning Outside the Classroom

Intent

At Great Kimble we recognise the benefits of being outside. It can have a huge impact on learning, behaviour and wellbeing and with that in mind we have developed our outdoor learning curriculum to enhance all aspects of children’s wellbeing. We are incredibly fortunate to have access to our outdoor classroom at Smokey Row that offers a safe space for the children to immersed in nature, take part in a range of nature-based activities and love the world they are living in.

Our ethos for outdoor learning is:

To be outdoors and as close to nature as possible, whether that space is the school grounds or at Smokey Row.

To take children out in most weathers, except high winds and heavy rain.

To make sessions inclusive to all children by removing differentiation and competition.

To put safety first using site, group, individual and activity risk assessments and to teach children to take ownership of their own personal safety.

To encourage children to bond as a community and gain self-confidence through activities.

To engage and inspire with a weekly nature curriculum that aims to teach compassion and care for the natural world.

To build up a bank of bushcraft skills such as fire-making; knot skills; shelter-building and woodwork skills.

Implementation

Smokey Row

We are very proud of the outdoor learning opportunities we provide at Great Kimble and the children benefit from visiting our outdoor classroom (Smokey Row) regularly. Smokey Row is a piece of meadow land close to the school. During this time teachers skilfully plan for creative ways in which curriculum subjects can be enriched from learning outside. Our children love these afternoons spent off the school site and work co-operatively together, problem solving and developing their awe and wonder for the world around them.

The walk to Smokey Row is used for mental maths work, speaking and listening skills and also to support the children’s understanding of the Earth’s movement in space, observing changes across the four seasons, observing the apparent movement of the Sun during the day and also observing the weather associated with the seasons. At Smokey Row, the children look after the land, shape the willow tunnel and take care of the hedge that was professionally planted. This is doing incredibly well: all sorts of berries and different coloured leaves are on view for the pupils to observe.

Our pupils learn to cross the railway line safely: they are aware of the importance of being quiet so you can hear the noise of the train, not only the whistle but also the rumbling in the tracks. .

With the new focus of the Science Curriculum from 2014 we are truly blessed to have been gifted this wonderful piece of land.