Outdoor Learning at Diamond Wood
At Diamond Wood Community Academy, we believe that it is crucial for our pupils to get frequent and regular opportunities to explore and learn in the outdoor environment. For us, this should not be seen as an optional extra.
In recent years there has been a cultural shift in our society that has reduced the access and use of outdoors for many young children. Contributory factors include increased fear amongst adults in relation to children’s safety and technological advances leading to an overwhelming prominence of more sedentary indoor activities, such as television, video and computer games. It is also especially important for our school to provide these opportunities as we know that for many of our pupils, playing outdoors within our school may be the only opportunity they have to play safely and freely while they learn to assess risk and develop the skills to manage new situations.
Click here to read more information about why we ensure Outdoor Learning is such an important part of our curriculum.
Our Curriculum Vision
We will provide children with high quality outdoor learning experiences which will support their Personal, Social and Emotional development as well as their Speaking, Listening and Language development.
Click here to read our whole school Outdoor Learning curriculum vision and intent statement.
Position Statement
We are constantly striving to improve our Outdoor Learning Curriculum in order to ensure our intended and implemented teaching and learning opportunities have the maximum impact upon pupil outcomes.
Click here to read our position statement and find out about our areas for development this year.
We are an Eco School!
When designing and building our Outdoor Learning Curriculum we worked closely with our Eco Schools Leader and Council.
We strive for our curriculum to ensure pupils know more, remember more and therefore be able to do more. We continue to ensure pupils are provided with high quality learning experiences which allow them to make links, joins and connections within all areas of learning.
To visit our Eco Schools page click here.
Outdoor Learning Leader
Our Outdoor Learning Leader is Mrs Tombling. She is also an Early Years Teacher/ Leader and is very passionate about providing high quality outdoor learning experiences for all pupils. Mrs Tombling is also our Science and Eco Schools Leader.
If you would like to speak to Mrs Tombling, email office@diamondwoodacademy.co.uk and address the email to her specifically.
Supportive Websites
Click on the links below for some great ideas for getting outdoors and exploring nature:
- https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/50-things-to-do
- https://www.rspb.org.uk/fun-and-learning/
- https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/animals/
- https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
- http://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/gardening-children-schools/family-activities
- https://www.bbcearth.com/bbc-earth-kids
- https://www.naturalkirklees.org/
Our Approach to
Outdoor Learning
When designing our Outdoor Learning Curriculum, subject and year group leaders worked collaboratively to ensure that it was effective in ensuring we were able to provide our intended progression of knowledge, skills, experiences and language development. We also made sure that we planned for a range of outdoor learning experiences that our children would not access at home. We worked with other settings who were happy to share their knowledge and expertise, before creating our own outdoor classrooms and planning. Staff receive regular training from leaders and external experts.
Our curriculum follows a thematic/ topic approach and where possible, we link learning and experiences to these. However, our outdoor learning sessions are more about providing children with real life experiences and a chance to develop their skills. All year groups will have the same focus/ themes each half term. However, activities will be differentiated within each year group to support skills progression and ensure a range of experiences across school.
Click here to read the full version of our approach rationale.
Visit Local
Click on the links below for some great local areas which could be visited:
Crows Nest Park - Dewsbury
https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communitydirectory/organisationdetails.aspx?orgid=6898
Dewsbury Country Park
https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communityDirectory/organisationdetails.aspx?orgid=7288
Batley Park - Batley
https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communityDirectory/organisationdetails.aspx?orgid=6897
Beaumont Park - Huddersfield
https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communityDirectory/organisationdetails.aspx?orgid=3270
Greenhead Park – Huddersfield
https://communitydirectory.kirklees.gov.uk/communitydirectory/organisationDetails.aspx?orgId=6749
We have been very busy...
Look at what we have been doing this year so far!
For more information or to look at our specific planning and progression documentation please contact Mrs Tombling by emailing office@diamondwoodacademy.co.uk and addressing the email to her specifically.
Alternatively, you can call us on 01924 325208 and request a meeting.
