Eco and Learning Beyond the Classroom

All things are possible for one who believes – Mark 9:23

 

School Vision

During their time at Waverley Abbey, children will develop awareness of global environmental issues, and of how they can play their part in protecting our planet. Through our evolving outdoor curriculum, children are able to develop their practical skills, as well as their wellbeing and resilience. They should leave us with and understanding of and love for the natural environment, with the knowledge and passion required to make eco-friendly choices and develop positive life-long habits.

"It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home, not just for us, but for all life on earth.” – David Attenborough

 

Curriculum Intent

Build and develop knowledge of nature and develop new skills to support mental well-being, boosting confidence, resilience and team work. Children to be more engaged, enthusiastic about a curriculum subject through the use of Outdoor Learning. To ensure all learning styles are supported across the curriculum, enabling and improving progress across a range of subjects.

 

Outdoor Learning

Taking learning outdoors has become increasingly important at Waverley Abbey. We have many outdoor spaces for every year group to enjoy and we work hard to link our outdoor learning sessions with each year group’s topics, so that any subject can be taken outside in order to provide enriching and engaging sessions, which will broaden our children’s understanding of the natural world.

 

Curriculum Implementation

A commitment is made during planning meetings to include Learning Outside the Classroom opportunities wherever possible, working towards the aim of embedding it within the curriculum. 

 

Impact

Learning Outside the Classroom is becoming far more embedded within curriculum, teachers are more confident and knowledgeable about how and when to plan in LBTC opportunities. Children’s engagement and wellbeing have benefited from the opportunity to learn outside of the classroom.

 

Forest School

Forest Schools is a Scandinavian initiative designed to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through an innovative, long term, educational approach to outdoor play and learning in a woodland environment. As a school we are very fortunate in having our own Wild area and a teacher trained to deliver the Forest Schools programme.

Forest Schools is offered to our Year 3 children, sessions are designed around the needs of the group to ensure that they are learner-led. Sessions occur throughout the school term. Many areas of the National Curriculum are intrinsically covered. Teamwork skills are developed through games and activities. Individual skills and self-esteem are heightened throughout activities such as shelter building, tool skills, lighting fires or environmental art and many more. Each activity develops intra and inter-personal skills as well as practical and intellectual skills.

We are an Eco school and value the benefits of outdoor learning. Children are stimulated by the outdoors where they can undertake a range of practical activities to support and enhance learning across the curriculum. Opportunities are built into the curriculum for children to continue learning beyond the classroom including undertaking fieldwork and enquiry based-work in the local area.

 

Learning Outside the Classroom

Our aims:

  • To develop LOtC as an entitlement for all young people.

  • To ensure high-quality provision through LOtC experiences.

  • To deliver a wide range of progressive and frequent LOtC activities for all year groups.

  • To provide young people with LOtC experiences and challenges that promote personal development, independence and well-being.

  • To broaden horizons and raise aspirations; believing they can achieve in all areas of their life.

  • To learn how to love and respect all things and to be inspired; marveling at the awe and wonder of God's creation.

ECO

The Eco Team consists of a group of representatives from different year groups. They hold meetings to talk about environmental issues which affect the school, the local and global community, and to plan activities for the whole school to take part in. 

At Waverley Abbey, we work hard to promote Eco values and are proud to be involved in various Eco schemes. The children love taking part in ‘green’ activities and appreciate how lucky we are that our school is set in such lovely natural surroundings. We feel it is important that the children establish a sound knowledge and pro-active attitude when it comes to environmental issues and how to ‘do our bit’.

Over the last year, Waverley Abbey's Eco Council have worked hard in achieving the 'Green Tree Bronze Award', an accreditation from the National Woodland Trust that helps to encourage school and students to engage positively with their outdoor learning and environmental awareness and protection. They are now keenly working towards the Silver level accreditation and finding ways to involve the whole school in expanding our knowledge and understanding of the natural world and how to steward it responsibly.

 

 

 

 

If you would like to find out more about the curriculum please make an appointment to see your child's teacher who will be happy to discuss this with you, you can do this by contacting school through the office via - info@waverley-abbey.surrey.sch.uk.