Learning Outside the Classroom | st-josephs-primary

Learning Outside of the Classroom

“For ever since the World was created, People have seen the Earth and Sky, through everything God made they can clearly see his invisible qualities , his eternal power and his divine nature they have no excuse for not knowing God” Romans 1:20

LOtC on a Page

Our LOtC Vision (Intent)

The LOtC curriculum gives pupils a sense of freedom when outside the restrictions of a classroom. They can often be more able to express themselves, and enjoy being able to move about more too. LOtC lessons will support children in feeling more engaged and more positive about the learning experience. LOtC lessons can also support the children’s well-being and memory skills. These skills and attributes help pupils to stay healthy, safe and prepare them for life and work in modern Britain.

Research shows that healthier and happier children do better in school, and that education is an important determinant of future health. But education is not just about lessons within the four walls of a classroom. LOtC encourages skills such as problem solving and negotiating risk which are important for child development. At St Joseph’s, we believe that LOtC education helps pupils to achieve their academic potential, and leave school equipped with skills they will need throughout later life.

Aims

St. Joseph’s R.C. Primary School aims to:

Enable children to become healthy, independent and responsible members of society and the school community.
Promote the five British Values, which include the rule of law, democracy, and individual liberty, tolerance of other faiths and beliefs and mutual respect through LOtC lessons.
Promote the importance and benefit of outdoor learning to staff and children through half termly LOtC sessions for the whole school
Develop self-confidence and self-esteem, team work, communication skills, and problem solving skills through LOtC lessons.
Enrich the children’s education through outdoor lessons that are an integral part of the children’s learning and support, challenge and extend the learning that takes places within school.

Implementation

St Joseph's is currently applying for the LOtC Bronze award qualification
1 teacher and 1 TA assigned as LOtC leaders, they meet up half termly to continue with Bronze awardand to support staff with planning and implementation of LOtC lessons.
All staff have been trained on using the Fire pit outside and have access to LOtC training cards.
School now has a pond, gardening area and club and school field which are all used for LOtC sessions throughout year.
Staff plan and deliver a skills based LOtC lesson at least once every half term which aim to develop pure LOtC skills such as map reading, team work, den making etc as well as other LOtC lessons that support topic work (for example, class trips, nature walks etc)
Commando Joe is planned and taught to all children from Reception to year 6 every week (this is as well as the required PE sessions) baseline and continuous assessment is carried out on this.
Outside learning activities in EYFS are a mirror of the quality of education children experience in the actual classroom.