Outdoor Learning

At Cleves, we have fantastic grounds and therefore we are committed to regular opportunities to undertake outdoor learning. 

At Cleves, we believe that all children have the right to experience the unique and special nature of being outdoors. We further believe that it is important to enable children to use the outside environment as a context for learning. In other words, Outdoor Learning can help to bring learning alive, becoming a stimulating source of fascination, personal growth and can lead to breakthroughs in learning. Outdoor learning also provides experiential opportunities, such allowing pupils to respond positively to challenges and responsibilities, to manage risk, to cope with change and cooperative learning. Therefore, we aim to offer every child the experience for 1 day a term, or equivalent, to participate in Outdoor Learning. This may be in a local environment or in the school grounds as we are exceptionally lucky to have extensive grounds which offer excellent opportunities for both formal and informal learning. Outdoor Learning activities are diverse and range from creating artwork using natural items, becoming detectives and analysing the environment, going on scavenger hunts, exploring the local biodiversity and fire building on a range of size scales.

Outdoor Learning also has a focus on ‘survival skills’ where we teach children how to safely and responsibly use outdoor tools e.g. whittling with knives, using loppers to chop wood and using bow saws.

To read more about the intent, implementation and impact of our curriculum at Cleves, please click the link below.

Intent, Implementation and Impact