Outdoor Learning
We are so lucky to have our beautiful rural setting and take every opportunity to learn outside. We understand how important being in nature is for children’s well-being.
We are blessed to have a village recreation ground with mature trees surrounding our school as well as our own big field, which is perfect for extending our science lessons in the outdoor environment. In addition to this, we also have access to miles of woods and farmland. Every class in the school visits these areas for regular Forest School sessions with trained professionals as well as cross-curricular work with their teachers. The Puffins’ favourite annual event is the bluebell walk.
We have also been busy developing our own grounds over the years. We have a running track on our field, which is used by classes for exercise breaks and our wonderful PTA recently funded a willow workshop, where the children created a stunning willow dome. It’s become a much-loved den during playtime and is big enough for a whole class to use for outdoor lessons. Each classroom also has its own direct access to an outside area, so we work outside whenever we can.
During lockdown, our Year 5/6 class took it upon themselves to boost biodiversity in our grounds and successfully bid for a number of grants to create our very own Wildlife Area. They have done all the work themselves from applying for funding, to the design and construction of it. We are really proud to see it developing and being used by all classes to take their science lessons on plants and habitats outside.
Our infant classes have also been busy with their own vegetable patch where they have been growing their own fruit and veg with help from some of our wonderful green-fingered parents.
Wildlife Garden Update
Our wonderful eco TA, Mr Moore, has been busy in the Wildlife Garden and has some great news to share! Back in the summer of 2020, we planted some plugs on our wildflower bank, and we're so excited to report that this year, we've already identified over 20 different flowering plant species.
This is a brilliant step towards increasing biodiversity in our school grounds, and we can't wait to see what else grows.
Forest School Sessions
We understand the importance of children spending time outdoors for their mental and physical well-being. That’s why every class has the opportunity to take part in Forest School sessions in our local woodland for one afternoon a week for a whole term. We really do think that tree hugging can make you feel better.
Forest School is all about learning in a fun, relaxed environment. Children observe, learn and practice new skills such as using tools, making fires, and creating woodland crafts. Above all, children are able to just ‘be a kid’ and play, whether it be through structured team activities or with the children’s own imaginations. The children are also able to push their physical boundaries, assess risk, and work as part of a team.
Guided by our qualified leaders, children are able to find their own paths and have their own successes which may be very different to their experiences in the classroom. We have noticed a truly remarkable rise in our children’s self-esteem and confidence through the regular sessions. Forest School allows every child to have a voice.
Forest School also allows children to really look at and care for their environment. We hope our pupils are tomorrow’s environmental ambassadors, who will share their enthusiasm for the care of our natural world with their families and community.
Willow Dome Workshop
When our Eagles class were learning about how to increase biodiversity in our school grounds, they found out about living willow structures and thought that would be a great thing to make! The Eagles found out that willow is great for nature; it provides pollen for bees at the start of spring and a home and food for a huge variety of insects.
The whole school was involved in this project. Ganesh and Elaine from Creative Willow taught us all about willow, and helped us make this fantastic structure. We can't wait to see how it changes and grows through the seasons!
Our Wildlife Garden - A Project Endorsed by Sir David Attenborough Himself
Our Eagles class children of 2021 were so inspired by their work on the environment that they wanted to make a difference. A science topic on habitats in lockdown quickly expanded into a whole year-long journey of designing and building our very own Wildlife Garden to help biodiversity on our school site.
The children took on the responsibility of writing letters to local charities and companies to ask for support and enter competitions to bid for grants. They were successful in winning a grant from the Learning through Landscapes charity and also funding from the Wilder Horsham District project.
In fact the letters were such a success that they even got the attention of our local Sussex Wildlife Trust who have visited us many times over to offer hands-on support and advice. We were also so excited when one of our children received a personal, handwritten letter from Sir David Attenborough wishing us well in our endeavours.
Our children have designed and built all the features in the garden themselves with some help from our amazing parents and teachers' partners during our woodland workshops. The whole school community has been involved in the project but none more than our resident nature expert, Mr Moore.