How we teach Outdoor Learning at Wordsworth Primary School

Outdoor learning experiences are often remembered for a lifetime.
At Wordsworth Primary we have a strong ethos for outdoor learning and believe that it can be used in many cross curricular areas to strengthen and deepen pupils understanding and knowledge and create real life experiences for pupils. Learning outdoors is enjoyable, creative, challenging and adventurous and helps children build curiosity and enthusiasm and grow as confident, resilient and responsible citizens.

At Wordsworth, curriculum learning is therefore interwoven with outdoor experiences. These begin with play and exploration of the school grounds at the beginning of the children’s school journey and then progress into specific curriculum learning intentions within the grounds and further afield as the children grow through the school. This helps to make learning relevant to the children and brings a depth to the curriculum in ways that are difficult to achieve indoors. Furthermore, the children are exposed to natural environments within the school grounds as well as during external trips and visits, enabling them to gain understanding and respect for the natural world and all that lives within it.

What does it look like?

• A whole school commitment to Outdoor Learning, from Year R to Year 6 
• A dedicated outdoor learning timetable, taught to each class twice a half-term
• Outdoor learning links throughout curriculum subjects, primarily in Geography and Science 
• Thoughtfully planned progressive outdoor learning sessions, providing children with high quality learning opportunities 
• Children exploring outside and making connections with all aspects of their learning 
• Children motivated and engaged in practical activities 
• Opportunities to learn specific outdoor skills. For example, shelter building.
• Children showing care and respect for living things 
• Children contributing to looking after the school grounds and the Nature Zone 
• Children having a go, without worrying about being ‘wrong’ 
• Children learning how to risk assess for themselves in the outdoor environment 
• A range of trips and visits connected to the outdoors for all Year groups 
• Residential opportunities for all children in Year 2, 4 and 6

Please see the photo gallery at the right-hand side of this page to get a closer look of the sorts of things we have been up to!