At our school outdoor learning lies at the heart of the curriculum. It develops children’s knowledge and understanding and increases the child’s vocabulary by giving meaning to words. It provides the opportunity for collaborative learning in many curriculum areas. It promotes risk taking and further develops a respect for the world around them. Our outdoor curriculum instils a lifelong love of nature and promotes other core values.

At Whitefield Infant School, we use the outdoors as our 'Classroom Under the Sky', which is roofed only by the clouds! It acts as an outdoor classroom where children can explore, investigate and discover the natural environment, alongside developing their language and gaining first-hand learning experiences. It provides a valuable teaching tool for teaching and learning in all curriculum areas. Our 'Classroom Under the Sky' uses the Forest School Principles, interwoven with our own visions and values and beliefs about how our children learn.

Why learn outdoors?

Key Features of our outdoor classroom:-

• Allows every child to have a voice, especially those who find it difficult to communicate in the more conventional learning environment.
• The use of a natural outdoor environment.
• Child-led approach to children’s learning which is fun and unhurried.
• A high adult to child ratio allows children to undertake new experiences and challenges whilst taking appropriate risks.
• Long term programme that allows repetition where children come into contact with nature using all their senses.
• Supports personalised learning.
• Builds children’s confidence and self esteem as they are responsible for making their own decisions and are carefully supported to achieve.
• Trained adults are facilitators and observers, rather than leaders and directors.

At Whitefield we take these features and weave them into our outside learning, linking them into the curriculum making it become more alive, exciting and real.

Our Outside Learning is.....

• Fun!
• Regular and ongoing
• A way of raising confidence and self-esteem
• Safe, outdoor play and education
• A way to learn how to manage risks
• The chance to develop emotionally and physically
• An opportunity to learn about the curriculum in a natural environment
• Encourages the children to connect to nature and the great outdoors.

What children do in our Classrooms under the Sky .....

• Build dens and shelters
• Games and physical activity
• Explore the environment
• Music and lots of noise
• Trails and Treasure hunts
• Creativity and Art
• Using tools safely to make natural items
• Fires, cooking and healthy eating
• Science and technology