Outdoor Learning
Huge potential for learning opportunities.
At St Dominic’s we believe that the outdoor environment has huge potential for learning opportunities.
Teaching staff frequently make use of the school grounds for varied educational experiences. In the outdoor environment children can think differently and apply skills in new ways to solve problems and achieve aims. Some examples of this at St Dominic’s include children exploring habitats around the school grounds and hunting for minibeasts in the garden, engaging in a desert island challenge teambuilding in the playground or gardening on the school rooftop. Key Stage 1 and Early Years children share a playground filled with resources to allow for outdoor role play and creativity.
At St Dominic’s we believe that nature encourages children to explore and discover, to take new risks and challenges and to learn new skills. Children have occasion to express their imagination, develop their creative and critical thinking skills, and to learn across all areas of the curriculum. Children need to be active with their bodies and minds to experience nature in all its forms. At St Dominic’s children are given unhurried time in an outdoor environment so their learning can have deeper meaning and create long lasting memories.
We also value school visits as a way for pupils to experience new outdoor environments. In the past these have included a visit to the Wolseley Centre for a geography river study, exploring the gardens and ground management at Shugborough, Tatton Park and Swynnerton estate, and an outdoor survival skills camping trip.
