Outdoor learning
Why do we promote outdoor learning at Southfield Junior School?
- To develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on experiences in an outdoor setting.
- To encourage everyone to mix with different year groups.
- To encourage social skills.
- To enable children to get outside into nature, get dirty, take calculated risks and have fun.
These sessions are run by Mrs Law and Mrs Barber, who both love to get their hands dirty!
How does it benefit the children?
Outdoor Learning helps children to grow in confidence as a result of the freedom, time and space they are given in their learning. It allows them to develop independence at their own pace.
Does it have an impact on their learning?
Outdoor Learning can be particularly effective for children who do not always feel confident in the classroom environment. Children learn to solve problems and be creative and imaginative which in turn encourages confidence and allow them to display different areas of enterprising behaviour.
Risk Assessment for Handling Animals
To look at our risk assessment for children handling animals whilst at Outdoor Learning, please click here.
Term 1 - Amble into Autumn
Our first session back after the summer break and the sun was shining, although it was a little bit nippy! We set up the cameras in the woods to see what animals we could capture and to see how much the fox cubs have grown.
Then we set about climbing trees to pick and collect cooking apples. Some children had never climbed a tree before and absolutely loved it. Always remembering to have three points of contact on the tree at all times, some managed to climb quite high. Even Mrs Barber and Mrs Law had a go, much to the delight of the children.
