Woolhampton School opens new outdoor learning space

Woolhampton Primary School is championing kinetic learning by opening a new outdoor education area.

The new space, with the help of parish council funding, is a welcome resource to bolster pupils' mental health and practical learning.

It was officially opened on Friday by parish councillor, Tony Renous, and West Berkshire chairman, Rick Jones.

Headteacher, Kath Burns, said: "The initial idea came about three years ago. We wanted to carry on an element of practical learning and the classroom wasn't quite big enough to have the equipment we needed."With the impact of Covid on the children's development, we saw more of a need to enhance the practical learning we were doing and to encourage a healthy outdoor lifestyle.

"We have two different types of outdoor learning. We have our Forest School where the children look at skills like building fires and using tools. We also teach the national curriculum outdoors.

"It's in a central location accessible to all year groups. Each year group has their own planter. We have a school allotment, but each classroom will have their own area to plant and grow whatever the class decides.

"Rosebourne Garden Centre donated some bulbs and plants to get us going."

Mrs Burns added: "We put an application in to the parish council. We had looked at the impact of children's mental health and the education children were receiving and felt it was something they could help fund.

"It was approved and put through, so we are very pleased and grateful for their generosity."