Cardiff Outdoor Learning Wales Network Group Meeting
Cardiff museum
20th January 2016 at 4pm.
Minutes
Present:
Meriel Jones – Bute Park Education Centre, Steve Gunning – Llanishen Fach Primary, Liz Norman& Janet Fotheringham – Moorland primary, Chantelle Haughton– Cardiff Met, Maria Drummond – St Pauls CIW primary, Sam Barnard – Albany primary, Louise Roberts & Huw Adams – Hywel Dda primary, Barbara Brown – Community Scientist (OPAL project/ Cardiff museum), Cathy Velmans & Pete Morrison – NRW,
1. Apologies:
Emma Davies - Llanishen Fach Primary, Chris Hewings & Iram Khan – St Paul’s Primary
2. Finance update
£2,029.25 in bank. Needs spending!
Group discussed how to spend money. Meriel mentioned that they had tried to organise a networking event last May but there hadn’t been enough uptake to run the event. Group discussed problem of less people being allowed out with current education trends. Louise – did highlight that their school had recently had an inspection which had specifically mentioned Forest School and how attainment levels especially in boys was up.
Suggestions made for spending funds were:
· To potentially use some of it as a bursary to contribute to people attending an Outdoor Learning Practitioner Award course.
· Specific resources that individual schools may want, e.g. a Kelly kettle
· Other training courses that schools may want to attend
· Pay experts to run twilight sessions for group e.g. Coastal training twilight
It was decided that money would be available to schools who have regularly attended the Cardiff OLW group – and have been to 2 meetings over the last year.
AP – Any school that meets the above criteria and wants some money towards the any of the suggestion mentioned (or any other requests) please e-mail Meriel stating what you want the money for and how much you would like. Meriel to collate all requests – and these will be discussed and agreed at the next meeting.
AP – Cathy to e-mail out details on the Outdoor Learning Practitioner Award to those who expressed an interest.
3. Future projects and funding available.
The following information was given out on this years’ special grant –
With Welsh Government launching a campaign to promote Wales as a desirable tourist destination Outdoor Learning Wales is delighted to offer each network group an “Outdoor Explorer” Special Grant of £200 which can be amalgamated with the annual small grant of £200.
Liz mentioned that she would be interested in some coastal training or ideas. AP – Pete to investigate this as the Vale group did something similar at Barry.
4. AOB
Marie asked a question about risk assessments and how other school do them. Do they do a RA for every session – sign and log it. Liz said they do RA every session but generally cut and paste most activities. Others suggested having a generic RA but having a pre-session check list (tick sheet) which is carried out prior to each session. Meriel offered to send the version she used to use for FS.
5. A visit to Entomology
Many thanks to Barbara for hosting and showing us around behind the scenes at the museum. It was very interesting
6. Date and venue of next meeting
To be decided.
OLW Network Group Minutes Last Updated March 2014