Learning Outside the Classroom
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‘Foundations for…Outside Learners’
At the Academy of Cuxton Schools, we believe that Learning Outside the Classroom is at the heart of our entire curriculum. It is part of our ‘foundations for life’ to help children understand and develop themselves, understand others and to understand the world. We explore and make connections outside through all aspects of our learning: we ask questions and use the wider community to build on our understanding,
we show care and respect for all things and people and we are inspired and motivated by our wider world.
At Cuxton we believe that LOTC activities arranged by our school supplement and enrich our curriculum providing experiences that would otherwise be impossible. All our LOTC experiences provide an educational purpose, enhancing and enriching our learning through real-life learning and hands- on activities.
“We collected ingredients for our mud kitchen recipes”
“We explored the capacity of different containers”
“We visited the library and watched a story about a woodlouse”
“We made story sticks to help us with our structure when we wrote our stories. I looked at it and it reminded me what to do.”
“Year 4 line dancing afternoon to celebrate our learning of the USA”
Forest School
Throughout the year, all classes have the opportunity to use our Forest school. They take turns in weekly forest school sessions where child led learning is at the heart of their outdoor exploration. The children are taught things such as: health and safety of forest school, how to respect the environment, use a variety of tools, create a shelter, build and cook over a fire, make a rope swing.
Additionally, we use forest school to enhance mental health across school; children use the outdoors for personal development, to take a brain break and to learn in a different way. We encourage children to explore the skills they are good at, to work as a team, develop fine and gross motor skills, to problem solve, build resilience and to de-stress.
We also listen to stories, sing songs and love to get messy.
Outdoor Passport
During your child’s time at Cuxton, they will achieve an ‘outdoor passport’. This will include some of the activities on our whole school passport, they will be completed during Forest school sessions, after school clubs, on trips and based on the skills the children want to develop.
Your child will have the opportunity to tick off at least one activity a term! That is 6 collected per year!
Forest Explorers
Within Nursery and Pre-school we explore our Forest school area. The children explore the different areas and start to understand life outside. Forest explorers provides children with the freedom and space to explore nature, to run, swing, build, climb and be creative in a hands-on way. We tell stories, play games and explore what nature has to offer us. Every day we discover and learn something new through the seasons. Children develop their social and language skills, their self-esteem and grow their respect for the outdoors.
