At St Bega’s we see the importance of learning in different environments; particularly using the outdoors as a vehicle for learning.
Lessons across the breadth of the curriculum and key stages are planned weekly in the outdoor environment.
EYFS and Key Stage 1 – every Thursday
Key Stage 2 – every Monday
How we bring the curriculum alive outdoors
Number lines using both natural and man-made resources
Building structures and counting in 2’s
Creating maps of the playground from an aerial view
In addition to this we plan discrete Forest School sessions every week. Forest School sessions are planned to enhance both personal development and physical education.
What is Forest School?
Developing individuals throughout school
At St Bega’s we take a holistic view of learning to ensure we allow all children to flourish.
Planning for personal development stems from both the characteristics of effective learning through to the personal development goals for KS1 and KS2.
EYFS Characteristics of Effective Learning
“Characteristics of Effective Learning and the prime and specific Areas of Learning and development are all interconnected.”
(Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage, 2012, p4)
We support the children in engaging and learning with other people and their environment through playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically. We believe that these characteristics underpin all learning and development.
There are 3 characteristics of learning:
Playing and exploring – engagement
- Finding out and exploring
- Playing with what they know
- Being willing to ‘have a go’
Active learning – motivation
- Being involved and concentrating
- Keeping trying
- Enjoying achieving what they set out to do
Creating and thinking critically – exploring
- Having their own ideas
- Making links
- Choosing ways to do things
Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 Personal Development
- Try new things – Appreciating the range of life opportunities.
- Work hard – Understanding the importance of effort.
- Concentrate – Understanding how to become focused.
- Push oneself – Understanding how to overcome doubts and insecurities.
- Imagine – Understanding how to apply knowledge inventively.
- Improve – An appreciation that small improvements make big differences.
- Understand others – An appreciation of others.
- Not give up – Understanding of the importance of persistence.
Forest School in action
Exploring a new environment
Taking on new challenges
