At Lumley Primary Federation we see the outdoors as a living, breathing classroom!
We are lucky to have excellent outdoor facilities at both schools. Lumley Infant and Nursery School has an onsite Forest School area and each year group has access to their own outdoor space attached to their classroom.
Lumley Junior School has an extensive playing field, a ball park, an outdoor gym, an adventure trail, a wildlife area (including a pond and a bird hide) a story telling area and a fire pit zone.
Outdoor learning creates opportunities for our children to link their classroom learning with the natural environment around them; acquiring those skills and experiences that the classroom can’t teach alone. Outdoor learning is challenging, fun, healthy and integral to our ethos.
We believe that every child should experience the outdoors as part of their education, well-being and personal development and that’s why our timetable has regularly planned, practical-based outdoor activities, educational visits and local community walks. In our schools, opportunities to learn outside of the classroom are maximised. Through outdoor learning, children will develop their geographical skills and navigation, scientific knowledge and skills, physical play and development (gross and fine motor), design and technology skills. They will also learn about aspects of safety in the outdoors, especially fire safety, and have the opportunity to build dens and shelters.
Each year group has time to develop their skills and knowledge through practical exploration. Staff are there to support the children to develop a positive and inquisitive attitude towards the natural environment and the world around them. Outdoor learning provides our children with the most memorable and worthwhile learning experiences, while at the same time developing self-assurance, team work, leadership skills, risk taking, problem solving and investigative skills. Carefully planned field work and educational visits, relevant to our curriculum, support our Outdoor Learning ethos. Additionally, by the time our pupils leave Year 6, they will have had the opportunity to complete the National Trust’s “‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾” as well as undertake outdoor learning during a residential visit.
Most importantly, learning outside of the classroom allows our pupils to make sense of the world around them and to become confident, responsible, resilient and independent young people.
