OUTDOOR LEARNING
When you think of a school classroom, you’ll probably picture four walls, chairs and desks. But what if a classroom had none of that? Just trees and foliage, lakes and fields, open sky for a ceiling, and learning materials strewn around on the woodland floor. Now imagine how much fun that would be for any enquiring young mind.
That sort of experience is just one of the benefits that Walhampton brings to a child’s education. Nestled within its 100-acre grounds, the school has a Forest School site and an outdoor classroom, providing unrivalled opportunities for practical open-air learning.
Outdoor learning is increasingly embedded in all areas of the curriculum and year groups, with Years 3 to 5 now having weekly sessions timetabled.
By exploring nature and working together – doing things like climbing, collecting, shelter building, cooking and fire lighting – the children have opportunities to make independent choices and take risks in a safe and controlled environment.
Children are natural-born adventurers and want to learn anything and everything about the world around them, so it is important that schools help them do this. This can help them to develop early approaches to problem-solving and year on year Walhampton sees a significant boost in self-awareness, independence, motor skills, confidence and importantly at this time, well-being. The outdoor curriculum also ensures that children develop communication abilities through collaborative-working.
EXPEDITIONS
Expeditions Week is generally seen as one of the most important weeks of the school year and defines what Walhampton is all about.
We provide children with experiences outside the classroom which lead to greater confidence, self-reliance, selflessness and increased knowledge of how to be part of a team. Expeditions ‘week’ lasts for 5 to 7 days towards the end of the summer term and is an integral part of education at Walhampton, involving all the Prep children and staff. It is very different from anything else offered either on the curriculum, in games or activities, and deliberately so.
Expeditions Week is a natural extension of our outdoor learning provision. Read more about it on our Expeditions page.
Prep School 7-13 Years
