Learning Outside the Classroom Policy

Introduction

Our learning outside the classroom policy aims to foster the children’s love of learning. At King’s Hawford, we believe that all children have the right to experience the unique and special nature of being outdoors and of taking their learning outside the classroom. We further believe that it is important to enable children to use the outside environment as a context for learning and also to develop an understanding that learning is not something that is restricted to a classroom environment.

What do we mean by Learning Outside the Classroom?

Learning outside the classroom is a broad term that includes: outdoor play, learning in areas outside the classroom, including other places in school buildings, school grounds projects, environmental education, recreational and adventure activities, personal and social development, outdoor lessons, trips to other places and outward bounds sessions. Such learning does not have a clearly defined boundary but it does have a common purpose. Learning outside the classroom can provide a dramatic contrast to the children’s normal classroom. There is strong evidence that good quality learning outside the classroom adds much value to classroom learning. It leads to a deeper understanding of concepts that span traditional subject boundaries and which are frequently difficult to teach effectively using classroom methods alone. In addition such learning builds an understanding that we learn at all times, in all places.

Direct experience outdoors is powerful, motivating and has impact and credibility. The results from learning outside the classroom can be instantaneous as well as active and therefore impacts on behaviour as well as tapping into the learning styles of the more kinaesthetic learner. Through skilled teaching, such experiences readily become a stimulating source of fascination, personal growth and can lead to breakthroughs in learning. These experiences readily develop the learning skills of enquiry, experiment, feedback, reflection, review, communication, problem solving, an enterprising attitude and cooperative learning.Learning outside the classroom can help to bring learning alive. For that reason such learning can have an impact on areas of the curriculum as diverse as imaginative writing and personal and social development. This approach to learning also provides experiential opportunities, allowing pupils to respond positively to these challenges and responsibilities and teaches pupils to manage risk and to cope with change.

Benefits of Learning Outside the Classroom

  • It helps to ensure that children are successful learners, enabling children to develop knowledge and skills in ways that add value to their everyday learning experiences.
  • It contributes towards creating independent learners with high self-esteem and self- sufficiency.
  • It can have a positive impact upon children’s behaviour.
  • It contributes towards the promotion and children’s understanding of the importance of developing a healthy lifestyle.
  • It promotes and strengthens communication skills, team work and sense of cohesion.

Aims and Objectives

  • To raise the profile of Learning Outside the Classroom.
  • To empower children to take ownership of their learning.
  • To encourage children to develop the skills to solve problems, developing resilient and reflective learners.
  • To develop skills of communication, cooperation and collaborative learning.
  • To provide a challenging, safe and secure environment within which children can take and manage risks.
  • To encourage children to care for their school environment and the wider environment beyond.

The Nature of our Provision

The school offers a diverse experience for children, both inside and outside the classroom. We believe that high quality learning experiences in all parts of the school enhance and develop the classroom-based environment. Although it is difficult to summarise our total provision, the following notes give a general picture:

  • We are committed to learning in all parts of the school. This includes planned activities outside the classroom, e.g. mathematical challenges, phonics lessons, MFL work outside the classroom.
  • In Kindergarten and Reception all children have a weekly Forest School session.
  • Early Years children also enjoy both an outdoor garden area (Kindergarten 1) and an outdoor play area with adventurous play equipment. They also use the courtyards adjacent to their classrooms as an extension of the classroom.
  • All children will experience learning tasks in areas of the school beyond the classroom. Lessons are planned in all subjects to provide such experiences.
  • We have developed a strong understanding of the need to build in high quality learning experiences using all school areas, both indoors and outdoors.
  • All Year 1 to Year 6 children use the outdoor play area daily.
  • Trips are organised each term for all classes.
  • Year 1 and Year 2 children enjoy outdoor use of the Forest School area.
  • After school clubs for the younger children (Reception to Year 2) see the children engaged in outdoor activities such as gardening club, katakanu club and nature studies club.
  • In Years 3 to Year 6 the children have the opportunity after school to take part in a gardening club and outward bound club.
  • Opportunities are used throughout the curriculum to use the outdoors in all subjects.
  • All children participate in an arts week in the Summer term which involves learning in a wide range of school locations, indoors and outdoors.
  • There is an outdoor classroom for use throughout the year. Classes are often based there to take part in learning that uses the school grounds.
  • The curriculum is enhanced by a diverse range of events throughout the year, such as school walks, camp outs involving many year groups and whole school camping experiences.
  • All children in Year 2 to Year 6 take part in residential visits to support their learning.
  • There is a traversing wall for use in lessons.

Health and Safety

We will support children in taking risks within a safe and secure environment. Pupils will be taught to manage risks. It is important to ensure that the outdoor environment offers challenges and teaches the children how to be safe and aware of others. Outdoor learning opportunities will be grasped when available and teachers will assess risk.

In the first instance the schools policies relating to Health and Safety and Risk Assessment should be referred to and applied prior to any outdoor learning activity that may require additional support beyond the reasonable activities one would normally apply within the classroom. It is also important that the school applies robust safety measures to effectively manage and minimise risks. It is equally important, however, that all involved, including parents acknowledge that a degree of residual risk remains. However, we believe in evaluating risk benefits: the positive benefits of any activity should always be balanced against the risk that is involved. We therefore discuss with parents their views regarding all learning outside the classroom – and the degrees of risk that apply to the varying activities.

Our children are taught to manage risks in regard to outdoor learning. All pupils are regularly reminded about the importance of staying safe. Being safe is a school expectation and children are reminded of the importance of keeping themselves and members of the school community safe.

The following expectations are understood by all pupils,creating a shared understanding of how pupils safeguard themselves and others when undertaking outdoor learning:

  • Learning Outside the Classroom is an important part of our learning journey.
  • We must prioritise safety at all times when we participate in any learning.
  • We must stay with our group when told to do so.
  • Rules relating to use of equipment must be followed.
  • Buoyancy aids and helmets must be worn when out on the canal.
  • Suitable clothing should be worn when outside.
  • We must be sensible and ensure that we achieve our learning objectives.
  • If we follow the expectations above, we will enjoy learning and stay safe.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Assessment of the children’s learning will be valued equally indoors and outdoors and should be part of the same process. This policy should be considered alongside other relevant policies, particularly the Curriculum Policy, the Educational Visits Policy and thePSHE Policy.

Managing the Delivery of Learning Outside the Classroom

Through the monitoring of teaching and learning e.g. forward planning meetings, observations, teacher’s self evaluations, summative assessment records and other school procedures we closely monitor the use of all learning outside the classroom as a key element of the learning experience at Hawford.

We provide support and professional development to enable staff to feel confident developing the, expertise or knowledge base to adapt their practice to include opportunities for learning beyond the confines of the classroom.

We encourage resilience in our response to all learning activities.

We recognise and give importance to the part played by learning experiences outside the classroom at the school.

We actively encourage teachers to plan opportunities for children to engage in learning beyond the school grounds. Each year group has a planned programme of educational visits whichcomplement and extend learning. We have worked with staff to develop a full understanding of the benefits of learning outside the classroom.

Residential Visits

Staying away from home is a powerful way of developing key life skills, building confidence, self esteem, communication and team working, for example. For instance, through staying at outdoor and adventure centres such as the Old Chapel, Malvern Elements Outdoor Centre and Dukes Barn, provides children with an opportunity to widen their range of experiences and find new skills and interests in which they may excel.

Staff Training

Training is given to all staff in areas relevant to the activities that take place. This includes:

  • Learning outside the classroom
  • Bellboat Helmsman’s training
  • Traversing wall training
  • EVC training to relevant staff
  • Visit leaders’ training
  • Lifeguard training for relevant staff
  • Paediatric and general first aid training for all staff
  • Mountain Leader training and Outdoor First Aid (Level 2)to the Outdoor Learning Coordinator

Disability Discrimination, Equality and Fairness

The school has guidelines in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 our school will be taking measures to include the views of parents and children who have a disability. These will be used to make any necessary changes to our school policies, promoting positive behaviour/discipline procedures and other aspects of the life and work of our school. At King’s Hawford we will work hard to:

  • Eliminate unlawful discrimination
  • Promote equal opportunities
  • Eliminate disability related harassment
  • Promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons
  • Encourage participation by disabled people

Within our school we have staff and pupils who would fall within some of the aforementioned categories and whom we actively ensure are treat with dignity, fairness and equality at all times. We will always aim to include all children in all activities and work with parents to ensure that this is the case.

Policy dated March 2017

Appendix 1– List of Residential Visits by Year Group

Year Group / Trip / Residential
Kindergarten / Farm Trip
Christmas Trip
Theatre Trip
Wonderland Trip – Fairy tale stories
Little Walsgrove Farm – to watch eggs hatch
Cotswold Farm
Little Owl Farm / N/A
Reception / Motor Museum
Bishops Wood
Top Barn Farm
Ullan’s Hall Farm
People Who Help Us – Visitors to school
Theatre Visit – back up topic / N/A
1 / Sea Life Centre
Avoncroft Museum - buildings
Bishops Wood Field Centre – materials through stories,
Mr History workshop – Great Fire of London / N/A
2 / Cathedral Visit
The Big Pit
Nature in Art
Black Country Museum
Severn Valley Railway / The Old Chapel
3 / Ombersley Village study
Chedworth
Mr History – Eygtian workshop / Malvern Outdoor Elements
Centre
4 / Bishops Wood – Stone Age to Iron Age
Hindu Temple
Castell Henllys – Celtic fort / 1 night school camp
Broad Haven Cross- curricular study (4 days staying at a YHA)
5 / Selly Oak Tudor House
Sewage works
Blist Hill – Victorians
Rainforest workshop / Dukes Barn Outdoor Centre
Malvern Geography Field Trip
6 / Ashes Hollow geography river study
Commandary Museum – Civil War
Mosque
Pedestrian Training
Shakespear Workshop
Walsall Gallery - Sculpture / 1 night camp out at school
Carsington Trip – water sports and camp craft activities – Derbyshire – 3 days

Appendix 2 : List of Extra Curricular Activities

Year Group / Activities
Kindergarten / If children stay after school there is usually some outdoor play provision provided, but there are no regular clubs.
Reception / Eco club
Nature Studies
Outdoor Arts & Crafts
1 / Nature studies
Forest School
Katakanus
Nature in Art
2 / Nature studies
Forest school
Katakanus
Nature in Art
3 / Outward Bound
Outside Art
Gardening
Science/ Nature club
4 / Outward Bound
Outside Art
Gardening
Science/ Nature club
5 / Outward Bound
Science Club
Photography/ Ipad/ IT
6 / Outward Bound
Science Club
Photography/ Ipad/ IT