"The best classroom and the richest cupboard are roofed only by the sky."
‒ Margaret McMillan
Every Day is an Outdoor Learning Day!
Why do we teach Outdoor Learning/OAA?
Outdoor Learning is highly valued at John Clifford School, with an important role to play in many aspects of a pupil’s life at school.
- Enjoyment: enjoy participating and reflecting in outdoor activities and adopt a positive attitude to challenge and adventure
- Confidence and character: enhancing their overall well-being by gaining personal confidence and developing character and resilience through taking on challenges and achieving success
- Health and wellbeing: developing their self-awareness and social skills, and their appreciation of the contributions and achievements of themselves and of others
- Social and emotional development: developing increased initiative and innovation, enthusiasm, curiosity, self-reliance, responsibility, perseverance, tenacity and commitment
- Environmental awareness: becoming alive to the natural local and global environment and understand the importance of conservation and sustainable development
- Activity skills: acquiring and developing a range of skills in outdoor activities, fieldwork, exploration, journeys and expedition
- Personal qualities: developing and extending their key skills of communication, problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, leadership and co-operation
- Skills for life: learning to appreciate the benefits of physical activity and the lifelong value of participation in healthy leisure activities and reflection
- Increased motivation and appetite for learning: displaying an increased motivation and appetite for self-directed learning that is contributing to raised levels of attainment in other aspects of their development, as well as becoming concerned, responsible and fulfilled citizens
- Broadened horizons: broadening their horizons and becoming open to a wider range of employment opportunities and life chances
Prepare for outdoor learning:
If taking part in Outdoor sessions, your child will need to bring warm and waterproof clothing and wellies or boots.
We have now taken stock of waterproof suits, waterproof trousers and wellies of all sizes, so we can dress anybody appropriately even if they forget their own gear!
Remember - there is no such thing as unsuitable weather, just unsuitable clothing! Please talk to your child about how many layers, extra socks, gloves, hats etc they need!
