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Outdoor Learning
Outdoor Learning is an important part of how our pupils learn at Westbourne and our curriculum runs for all Junior School pupils all year round, enhancing our already excellent teaching and learning in the classroom by providing opportunities for experiential learning.
At Westbourne School, Outdoor Learning is a vital part of our curriculum, offering pupils the opportunity to engage in hands-on, experiential learning in a natural environment. Our Outdoor Learning sessions are designed to build key skills, deepen understanding, and enhance cross-curricular learning by using the outdoors as a classroom.
Reception and Year 1
In Reception, pupils enjoy a child-led Forest School session every week on a Thursday afternoon. The focus of these sessions is to promote Forest School principles, helping children build social, physical, intellectual, communication, and emotional skills in a natural setting. These sessions encourage exploration, creativity, and problem-solving, all within the context of nature.
Year 2
Year 2 pupils participate in an Outdoor Learning lesson every week. These lessons alternate between child-led sessions and curriculum-led sessions linked to their topic. This blend of child-led and curriculum-focused learning ensures that pupils experience a wide range of learning opportunities, both through independent exploration and structured, topic-based outdoor activities.
Key Stage 2
Key Stage 2 pupils have an Outdoor Learning lesson every two weeks. These sessions take place in our dedicated Forest School area, The Dell, where pupils engage in outdoor activities all year round. Lessons are linked to their classroom learning, incorporating subjects such as Maths, English, History, Geography, and Science. These outdoor sessions are led by Mr. Magenty, who works closely with form tutors to ensure that the sessions complement and enhance classroom learning. Often, these outdoor lessons strengthen the cross-curricular links between multiple subjects, providing pupils with a holistic learning experience in a real-world context.
Each term, every class in the Junior School takes part in an afternoon Outdoor Learning trip, in addition to their regular class trips. These trips are usually free and are linked to topics, providing pupils with further opportunities for experiential learning outside the classroom.
In Years 5 and 6, pupils engage in an enrichment programme, where they spend an afternoon developing skills and knowledge related to outdoor activities. This includes contributing to the maintenance of our outdoor spaces and taking part in off-site natural projects every two weeks.
Additionally, once each term, Year 5 and 6 pupils participate in a whole-day learning journey, walking various routes around the local area and engaging in Outdoor Learning activities along the way. These journeys provide pupils with valuable experiences in navigation, environmental awareness, and teamwork, further strengthening their connection with the outdoors.
