Two pupils from St Margaret's Junior School sat round a camp fire in an Outdoor Education lesson

Taking The Classroom Outside

25th May 2021

Roald Dahl once said, “The more risks you allow children to take, the better they learn to take care of themselves.”

We have been delighted with the introduction of Outdoor Learning in the Junior School curriculum. This term Year 3 and Year 4 have enjoyed shelter building and learning about keeping safe in survival situations and last week this unit of work focused on teaching children the skill of making a fire.

“The pure joy in the children’s faces as they made a spark, then lit the tinder and ignited a fire was wonderful to observe and certainly something we want to see every day in School”

The importance of encouraging children to take risks and enjoy being outdoors in our current climate is key. Risk taking has always been an important part of a child’s development, but in a year where children have spent more time indoors than ever before, staff risk assessments have focused rightly on the pandemic, instead of outdoor exploration and adventurous activities. Giving children the opportunity to take part in Outdoor Learning and master the use of a flint and steel has been wonderful for all involved.

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