We love outdoor learning at Longvernal Primary School. Each child benefits from a weekly Forest School session, with every opportunity for cross-curricular learning seized. Our school logo describes us as ‘outdoor learning leaders’, as we place the highest value on being outdoors at every opportunity. For many children, they are placed back into their ‘natural learning environment’ when outdoors. All of the children at Longvernal reap the benefits from their time outdoors: socially, emotionally and psychologically. In our ‘screen-time’ and ‘risk-averse’ society, spending so much time outdoors equips our children to be well-rounded, healthy and alert learners.

Longvernal has wonderful outdoor spaces, both around the school and within our local community and we use these to the full. A Forest School provides a higher than usual adult to child ratio and works on the premise of positive relationships and tasks that build self-esteem and confidence. Part of our uniform is special wet weather gear so that children are able to explore safely.

All children learn how to safely build fires and dens both on site where we have copse and fire pit plus at the Silver Street nature reserve. They also use tools appropriate to their age and learn about the natural environment and how to look after it. Across the school all class teachers plan to include valuable outdoors experiences linked to the National Curriculum expectations but also to interest and enthuse the children.