Eco-Schools
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Promoting Eco-Elements Through Outdoor Teaching

Provide various opportunities for all children to enjoy the outdoors and gain an awareness of nature as well as learning new skills.

Gwernant 2

What did you do and how did you involve the whole school?

We have decided to focus much more on outdoor teaching. Every class has been a prominent part of it. The Foundation Phase pupils have been involved in challenges in the outside areas and in our weekly muddy March/Wednesday periods. Key Stage 2 has carried out the activities during their normal lesson time as well as in their Adventure Time sessions.

How and why did you decide on this target?

We decided on this target due to the circumstances caused by coronavirus. Everyone agreed that the children needed to be outdoors and have opportunities to enjoy nature and use the outdoors to learn new skills. In doing so we also touched on many aspects of the environmental review and our action plans.

How has the project affected your school and community?

Completion of the project / target has had a positive impact on the children particularly on their health and well-being. They agree that they have enjoyed learning new skills outdoors. The school has visited many local places and in doing so they have appreciated our community and seen what Llangollen has to offer e.g. Plas Newydd, Dinas Bran Castle, Pengwern forest etc. We trust as staff that they will be enthusiastic to go to the various places again with their families and share their experiences/knowledge learned.

School children reading clipboard

How did you celebrate success and what are your next steps?

KS2 children were rewarded for their efforts by passing John Muir’s level 1 (discovery award). In order to pass they had to demonstrate that they respected nature and attended 25 hours of outdoors learning. Next, they will continue to level 2 (audit award) which is 50 hours of outdoor activities. The Foundation Phase will continue to take part in eighty outdoor activities and boost their enthusiasm in learning about nature and the world around it. The whole range of outdoor activities distributed by the school can be found on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

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