Outdoor Learning at Holbeach Bank Academy
We have a strong ethos for outdoor learning and believe it can be used across many curriculum areas to strengthen and deepen pupils’ understanding and knowledge. We create real-life experiences for our pupils. Through outdoor learning, pupils become confident, resilient, and determined learners. They are exposed to natural environments, enabling them to gain understanding and respect for the natural world and all that lives within it.
Our Approach
Holbeach Primary and Holbeach Bank Academies are committed to outdoor learning. Every class has at least one designated outdoor learning session per week, alongside incorporating outdoor experiences into everyday lessons wherever possible. Outdoor learning is planned to enrich and enhance in-school learning experiences, giving every pupil the opportunity to enjoy and learn from the natural world regularly.
Children learn specific outdoor skills, such as using flint and steel to light fires, teaching fire safety, respect for the environment, and working within safe boundaries they learn to manage themselves.
We also host special outdoor learning days, allowing children to collaborate across age groups. For example, the Green Champions programme, delivered by the Scout Association and funded by DEFRA and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, teaches children about birds, bugs, bees, plastic pollution, and growing green through discussion, games, and practical tasks.
Outdoor learning takes place on our school grounds and through local visits.
Vision in Action
By the end of KS2, all children will have enjoyed hands-on outdoor experiences that enhance their understanding of a wide variety of curriculum areas. They will develop imagination and creativity through exploration, resilience through challenging activities in all weathers, and cooperation through teamwork.
Pupils will gain a strong understanding of nature, the world around us, and sustainable practices such as growing plants and vegetables. They will contribute to developing our school grounds and caring for the environment.
Our schools will participate in initiatives such as the Lincolnshire in Bloom Schools Competition, the Royal Horticultural Society Gardening Awards, and other projects that celebrate outdoor learning.
What is Forest School?
Forest School is a process that offers children opportunities, with regular hands-on learning experiences within a natural environment. These opportunities will help all learners achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem.
“Forest School is amazing!”
“I want to go to school every day”
“It makes me feel like I am free”
Play Promotes
Play is an international language that all children share. All children love to play, it should not be suppressed or ignored. Through play, children will develop their abilities to:
- Build on their communication and language skills
- Improve their social skills, and build and maintain friendships
- Self risk-assess, and manage these risks whilst being able to challenge themselves
- Use their imagination creatively
- Learn what interests them
- Be independent
- Challenge themselves
- Freedom to explore their environment
Imaginative Play
During our sessions, there is lots of play opportunities that the children have access to. But we also have lots of natural resources that the children can use as they wish. We have a pile of wood that a lot of the time is used to climb on. However, in one of our sessions, they use their imagination to create whatever they want to eg a train, a ship.
Child Led Play
All play opportunites are to be child led. This gives the children control of their own learning. The Forest School Leader understands the needs of each individual child and each opportunity is planned out for their needs, however, each child will take this in their own direction. This also gives them the freedom to use their own imagination and be independent and creative with this eg making magic potions for the troll under the bridge, children mix in mud to make the troll some food as he was hungry. Giving the children the change to lead in a safe environment gives them an opportunity to be creative with their ideas and the resources provided.
Freedom of Expression
All children have the right to Freedom of Expression, this includes freedom to seek, receive and share information and ideas. It is important that children are able to see that they are right holders too. They are able to express their feelings and opinions and these are respected. Forest School provides the children with a safe place to feel free to express themselves.
“Play alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul”
Friedrich Froebel
Children get to feel free, explore, learn, get muddy and climb, while having the guidance, support and nurture by our fully trained Forest School Leader.
Challenging Themselves
At Forest School, we believe it is important that children are allowed to climb trees, and this in incorporated into our sessions. It is a perfect play opportunity, where the children are able to independently risk-assess. It also helps improve their physical development, their concentration and patience.
Tree climbing will also raise the children’s confidence, as it will give them a huge sense of accomplishment. Also, being up high and looking down at the world, can feel very empowering.
“I have never done this before, but now I know I can”
