THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM LINK TO THE NATIONAL CURICULUM FOR KEY STAGES
IMPROVING SOCIAL SKILLS
Outdoor education and play serve to enhance a child’s learning and provide not only educational but also social benefits. The sense of ownership that children gain from being responsible for their wildlife garden can be extremely beneficial and can have a marked effect on children’s attitudes to school, themselves, other people and their surroundings.
It may be the first opportunity that a child has had to care for plants and animals in their natural surroundings. A garden encourages a sense of maturity and ownership through joint endeavor and working with the community. In many urban areas involving children in creating areas and landscapes actually reduces vandalism.
The addition of a wildlife garden to your school also greatly enriches the study of the National Curriculum and subjects that can be studied in the outdoor environment
include science, history, maths and English.
A wildlife garden can be used as an additional classroom and any subject can be studied in the relative calm and quiet gardens can induce. There are manifold benefits of having a wildlife garden in your grounds for both pupils and staff.
Key stage 1,2&3 links
THE BENEFITS OF SCHOOL WILDLIFE GARDENS
• Great resource for outdoor education and nature clubs
• Curriculum opportunities
• Valuable for wildlife especially in an urban area
• Gives children opportunities to have direct contact with nature
• Celebrate the importance of school grounds on National School Grounds Day, usually the first Friday in May
• Regarded positively in Ofsted Inspections
Wildlife Gardens and Ponds at Home
Often one of the first visitors to appear during spring to mate will be the frogs and toads. If you want to attract wildfowl and ducklings you should check out some of our Duck Real Estate. From floating islands to homes above the water. Also checkout the wildlife page. Wildlife Gardens
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Harper Asprey sponsors wildlife conservation see www.harperaspreywildliferescue.co.uk for more details.
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Health and Safety
School ponds are often locked away from view and hard to access, They are often angerous and underutilized due to strict health and safety regulation.
There are many ways to keep water safe but before you put up a six foot fence try a cover.
Safe for both wildlife and children but with total access for each.
The covers are strong enough to hold several adults. They allow all to enjoy the pond up close without concern for the children's safety,leaving the teaching staff to concentrate on the lesson.This is especially important for nursery aged children.
A des res for the wildfowl can add interest and the perfect home to bring up your ducklings.
