Venturing beyond the school gate, stepping out into the outside world, learning professionals guide the children around their square mile, listening, watching and experiencing the world around them. What’s that? What is it for? Who lives there? ……… many questions that can lead to discovery and knowledge about the children’s own locality and their experience of it.
This work has been a focus in the City and County of Swansea schools for a number of years and has been supported by the Design Commission for Wales and education consultant, Eileen Adams.
Teachers have found that focussing on the teaching and learning principles around this approach has led to some excellent practice. Now through NGfL Cymru it is possible to share this practice with other teachers and learning professionals throughout Wales. I have been amazed with the outcomes and believe that this skills based approach, with an emphasis on outdoor learning, is perfect for embracing the underlying principles of the Foundation Phase.
Outdoor learning features strongly in the new Foundation Phase Curriculum.
Four teachers have come together to share all the ways that they have found that have involved using the outdoor learning environment – its places and spaces, both made and natural – a holistic learning resource.
Swansea Network project members:
Rachel Jones, Naomi Gray, Faith James , Debbie Roberts and Carolyn Davies
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