At Lockers Park, our Pre Prep Outdoor Learning is key to a creative and inclusive curriculum across our 23 acres of woodland, and numerous outdoor areas, used year-round to enhance learning across all subject areas.
Break times are an opportunity for our boys to explore ‘The Shrubs’, using our extensive wooded areas to build dens, engage in outdoor play, and learn to interact positively with their peers. Little Lockers has its own dedicated shrubs which are greeted with excitement in breaktime and during various outdoor activities.
Down at Little Lockers we have our allotment, pond, Outdoor Classroom, adventure playgrounds and mud kitchen. Boys of all ages are encouraged to take time out in our sensory garden, and we even have our own Chicken Monitors to help keep our feathered friends safe and well.
Of course, a large part of our Outdoor Learning is our Forest School provision, with all pupils from Reception to Year 6 receiving weekly Forest School lessons delivered by Level 3 Forest School trained teachers.
We understand that Outdoor Learning goes beyond the school gates and our Little Lockers are often seen on school visits to the surrounding countryside and enjoying the school sponsored walk every Spring.
Outdoor Learning Awards
Our boys have really engaged with their Outdoor Learning sessions, the proof of which is clear to see through awards they have received for their efforts:
- Woodland Trust Green Trees Platinum Award
- Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction
- Green Apple Environment Award
- Plastic-Free Schools Award
We are also working towards our Fairtrade Schools Award, learning about this important issue through a cross-curricular approach including PSHE and English.
By getting our boys out of the classroom, and giving them opportunities to appreciate the natural world across subject areas, we aim to further their health, wellbeing and education.