Outdoor Learning

At St Nicholas School we are lucky enough to have extensive grounds at our disposal as well as having access to natural spaces nearby. Teachers are encouraged to make use of these grounds when delivering the curriculum and Forest school sessions run regularly for our younger school members. In addition, across the school all children go on school trips and there are several residential opportunities organised by the school for pupils at Key Stage Two.

Outdoor Learning

Our Aims

At St Nicholas School we aim for every child to …

Have experienced a wide range of outdoor learning experiences which foster the development of the ‘whole child’, particularly; their spiritual, mental, creative, social, emotional, physical and moral development and thus impact on an individual’s personal growth and mental well-being.
Increase their self -confidence, self -esteem and levels of resilience whilst partaking in first hand learning experiences out of doors.
Develop their teamwork, problem-solving and risk management skills in order that they may successfully tackle new challenges in later life.
Show a growing respect for the natural world and the creatures who live there.
Have developed a positive attitude to outdoor learning, challenge and adventure enabling them to wish to continue to spend time out of doors into adulthood.
And have had opportunities to feel the joy, awe and wonder the natural world can evoke.

Teaching and Learning

At St Nicholas all staff adhere to the agreed Teaching and Learning Policy. In addition, the following is in place:

Outdoor lessons are an integral part of the EYFS curriculum with children spending time out of doors in most weathers across the seasons
Each year group across the school to have at least two outdoor activities, other than PE run by their class teacher which links to curriculum or class needs. This might be a part or full lesson depending on the activity.
Each year group having least one outing year to a visit a venue offsite which supports and extends classroom learning.
Children in Key Stage Two have an annual residential which incorporates and promotes outdoor learning.

School Overview

Forest School Lessons and Outdoor Adventurous Activities

Year Group	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Reception	Out in The Dark	An Introduction to Fire Safety	Minibeast madness!
Year One	A Christmas Adventure!	Making a Group Fire	Exploring Trees
Year Two	Five Minute Fires	Help the Easter Bunny Find His Eggs!	What is a Nature Reserve?
Year Three	Sayers Croft		Overnight Camp
Year Four	High Ashurst/ Get Set 4 PE- OAA unit
Year Five		Isle of White	Get Set 4 PE- OAA unit
Year Six			PGL

Outdoor Activities to Support Class Learning

Year Group	Autumn Term	Spring Term	Summer Term
Reception	Exploring the School Grounds Autumn Fun	Exploring Winter Leap into Spring Growing Plants	Observing Minibeasts Gardening Fairy Fun Wet and Wild Day
Year One	Environmental Sounds and textures Seasons -Autumn	Road Safety Seasons -Winter/Spring	Planet Orb Naming Common Plants
Year Two	Materials Everywhere	Hot and Cold places around our school What lives in our school grounds?	Growing plants in different conditions Zambian Games
Year Three	Andy Goldsworthy -Sculptures Mammoth Hunt	Exploring Shadows Standing Stones Banksy- Graffiti Art	Investigating how fertilizers affect plant growth Carnival Time
Year Four	Get Set 4 PE- OAA unit River Safety Freezing and Melting	Code Making with Runes Sound Investigation	Protecting our Environment- Litter Survey Meditation
Year Five	Shadow Clocks Parachute designs	Filtration Exploding Volcanos	Get Set 4 PE- OAA unit Growing plants from parent plants.
Year Six	Place Value Out of doors	Investigating Pulse Rates	Managing Stress by using the out of doors- SATS Picnic Science Fair for rest of school