Outdoor Education and Educational Visits
At Folksworth C of E Primary School, we believe that children learn the most effectively when they are engaged in an exciting curriculum, with plentiful opportunities for hands on, practical experiences both inside and outside the classroom. We are fortunate to have extensive grounds surrounding our school building, which hold many opportunities for outdoor learning on a regular basis. These include a large field, a main playground, an outdoor sheltered classroom, a Peace Garden, a small wildlife garden, a fire pit area and a forest garden which is in our EYFS area.
Staff carefully plan outdoor experiences to enrich the whole curriculum and allow children to embed and enrich their knowledge, skills, understanding and ability to make connections in a different environment. They recognise that learning in different environments is an essential part of the development of the whole child and aim to provide quality, real life experiences, which promote a lasting enjoyment of the outside world.
Through outdoor learning, we encourage children to;
- Develop confidence, leadership skills and the ability to work with others through co-operation and team work.
- Show care, respect and a level of responsibility to their own world and make a contribution towards the development and care of our school grounds.
- Challenge themselves in a different environment and develop resilience in all weathers and seasons.
- Problem solve, ask and answer questions to reach their own conclusions.
- Develop independence, risk taking and managing safety measures.
- Develop imagination and creativity in a different environment.
Alongside rich learning opportunities using our immediate environment in school and around Folksworth village, we offer all of our children the opportunity to participate in a carefully planed program of educational activities off site or those involving visitors in to school to give workshops and additional experiences. Our KS2 children are encouraged to participate in annual residential visits, which work on a rolling program to ensure that the locations are not repeated. These include opportunities to experience a range of outdoor and adventurous activities.
