Outdoor Learning & Forest School
We have beautiful grounds at Pixmore. Within our school grounds we have a pond, an allotment area, two managed woodland areas, two huge fields, a wildlife area (where we know we have a fox den) and the ancient brook that runs through the front of the school and has been a feature of the landscape of Letchworth since before the town was developed.
As we are so lucky, we have been developing a curriculum where we incorporate outdoor learning for our pupils. We know that getting them outside and active supports their wellbeing as well as their learning.
Children at Pixmore regularly use our outdoor cross curricular orienteering trail to support their with their learning. Over the remainder of this year, we will be developing our Forest School to give every child an opportunity to learn and engage with our local environment.
Mrs Inman has already been working with one group of children as she works to complete her Level 3 Forest School Practitioner qualification. The group she has been working with have been helping her with tasks and activities which will eventually become a curriculum for the whole school.
The activities build resilience, a sense of community, responsibility for the local environment and self-confidence.
Eco Awards
In addition to the outdoor learning the children will be doing in school, the Eco Council and Mrs Inman created the Eco Awards. A set of challenges for children and parents to complete together outside of school to engage with nature, explore our beautiful town and just enjoy being outside together.
There are currently 3 levels of awards:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
Children complete tasks outside of school, email photos or bring in evidence to show they have completed the challenges and then are presented with a certificate in assembly. The Eco Council would like EVERYONE to have achieved their Bronze Award by the end of this year!
Some of the evidence children have sent in as evidence towards their awards.