EDUCATION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
CLAREMONT ’ S INNOVATIVE OUTDOOR LEARNING PROGRAMMING ENHANCES EARLY EDUCATION
BY SARAH BURTON , HEAD OF NURSERY AND PRE-PREP
It has been an incredibly exciting start to the new academic term for the youngest children at Claremont School in East Sussex , near Hastings , following the introduction of Beach School to the Pre- Prep curriculum . Claremont already delivers an established and dynamic Forest School programme for nursery-age children all the way to those in Year 6 , so the decision to add a new coastal dimension to the outdoor programme has made total sense - the seaside is just five miles down the road from the school after all !
Regular contact with the natural world brings a multitude of educational and emotional benefits to the learning experience . Research has been conducted across the world in relation to the benefits of outdoor learning . Research from T . Gill has shown that outdoor learning boosts confidence , social skills , communication , motivation , physical skills , knowledge and understanding , while research from O ’ Brien and Murray has found an increase in children ’ s self-esteem , self-confidence , the ability to work cooperatively and positive attitude to learning following outdoor learning sessions . As the coastal cousin to Forest School , Beach School helps deliver a curriculum that builds all of the core skills children need to thrive inside and outside the classroom including resilience , communication and teamwork . It also aids physical development as children build their knowledge and understanding of the world around them .
Outdoor learning forms a fundamental part of Claremont pupils ’ educational experience , and the benefits are limitless . The Claremont outdoor learning experience begins in Nursery . Children as young as two years old are taken to Forest School sessions a minimum of three times a week in our vast woodland . These early experiences set the foundations for children to develop confidence , social skills , communication , motivation , physical skills , knowledge and understanding , as well as developing a positive attitude to learning . As the nursery children move to Pre-Prep , Beach School is introduced as a regular feature of the curriculum and , while Beach School offers many of the same benefits as Forest School , the added benefits include a different environment in which the children can learn , offering them a broader learning experience .
Outdoor learning doesn ’ t just begin and end in the early years at Claremont ; it is a highly valued part of the curriculum and the Prep School is set in an extraordinarily beautiful setting with expansive woodlands . It is in this wonderful outdoor space that children up to Year 6 experience magical and enriching Forest School sessions every week . Activities range from sliding down the mudslide on rainy days , learning about wildlife conservation , planting orchards and wild flower gardens , conducting research for science projects under the canopy , building secret hideaways and cooking on an open fire to name but a few .
As a school , Claremont understands that the classroom isn ’ t for everyone . Some children who don ’ t feel as confident in the classroom will always get the opportunity to shine in our outdoor learning environment . This helps develop self belief and levels of resilience , which in turn transfer back inside the classroom . Our incredible location on the South East coastline , coupled with the success of our Forest School , has made the decision to introduce Beach School and develop an outdoor learning curriculum a very easy one !
Find out more about our outdoor learning curriculum by attending our Reception Discovery Day on 21 March from 9am - 1.30pm at Claremont Prep School .
claremontschool . co . uk
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