Outdoor Learning

The Great Outdoors

We are extremely proud of the extensive grounds we have at Clapgate. 

Take a look at this fantastic newspaper article about all the brilliant outdoor opportunities we offer at Clapgate:

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/education/pedro-and-pablo-go-top-of-the-class-at-clapgate-primary-as-school-goats-help-pupils-after-lockdown-3273808

The grounds at Clapgate provide our children with plenty of space to run around in at playtime and lunchtime, promoting exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Each Key Stage has their own playground which is equipped with trim trails and playground markings to keep children active.

---

We understand the importance of being outdoors and the positive effect it has on our mental health and wellbeing. We see our outdoor area as an extension of our classrooms and this provides our children with a wealth of learning opportunities such as exploring, experimenting, problem-solving and negotiating risk, which we know allows our students to become well-rounded individuals. We have provided enough waterproofs and wellies to ensure that outdoor lessons go ahead whatever the weather.

Recent developments include: an allotment with raised beds for each class to grow fruit and vegetables; a wooded area which provides opportunities for den building and investigating minibeasts and a sheltered seated area around a fire pit for reading stories, toasting marshmallows and learning important life skills;

In addition, we have a range of animals at Clapgate, including our chickens. The children look after and feed them each day, collecting their fresh eggs and letting them out to explore the grounds. We are extremely lucky to have two Pygmy goats, named Pablo and Pedro; they are part of our school family and we have employed goat keepers (year 5 and 6 volunteers), to take responsibility for looking after, feeding and cleaning them out. Every day, they are let out of their pen to feely roam around out top field. Children have the opportunity to play with the goats at break time and race them around the field! We also have two gorgeous guinea pigs called Marshmallow and Cookie. They live in Foundation Stage and the children love stroking, feeding and giving them the care and love they need.

Our school pond is designed for our children to have a go at pond dipping – we are hoping to gather some tadpoles so the children can explore the life cycle of a frog. 

We value outdoor learning highly at Clapgate and try to offer as many opportunities as possible for our children to take their learning outdoors as much as possible. Take a look at what each year group do for their half-termly activity in the link below:

• Outdoor Learning LTP

We also have our own Instagram page: @clapgateoutdoorlearning check us out for regular blogs about children learning in the outdoors!

---

Our Pupils’ Voice

This is what our pupils say about our outdoor learning at Clapgate:

• “I love being outside in the allotment because we can grow our own plants and think about healthy recipes to cook with our produce.” – Year 5 Pupil.
• “Now we have an outdoor classroom and campfire area, we have exciting places to listen to stories or create our own. Being outside makes me feel happy and it helps me use my imagination with freedom.” – Year 4 pupil.
• “I love the goats, I have four pets altogether – my 2 dogs at home and Pablo and Pedro! They behave for me because I talk to them, feed them and look after them. When I sat on their step last year, Pablo came over and sat on my lap!” – Year 6 pupil.

---

Meet Pablo and Pedro!

We would like you to meet our school goats Pedro and Pablo!

We picked up our Pygmy Goats from a Goat Farm in Harrogate. We asked all the children for ideas and have decided to name the white one Pablo (suggestion from Reception) and the brown one Pedro (suggestion from 4EB). Looking after the goats is part of the school routine. Each class takes their turn for a week to take on responsibility for caring for them. This encourages all our children to learn about caring for animals and the responsibility that goes with it.

---

The Reading Trail

Our outdoor reading trail includes:

---

The Wild Woodland Area

Within our school grounds we have a woodland area that is designed for:

• Identifying and classifying wildlife such as birds and minibeasts.
• Identifying and classifying what type of habitats different creatures have.
• Identifying and making comparisons between the conditions different minibeasts live in.
• Exploring different trees and plants, the shape, colour and size of the leaves to make comparisons with.
• Creating our own dens.

---

Meet Our Chickens!

We have raised our chickens from their incubation period! 

Our pupils in our Foundation Stage observed the eggs as they began to move and as the chicks began to peck their way out of their shells! They observed the chicks hatch fully out of their shells and drew pictures of how they were growing and changing each week. The children enjoyed talking about the changes they had observed and could talk about how chicks need looking after.

Once the chicks had grown we transferred them into their chicken coop and they love to jump up onto their hen houses to look at us!  The chickens are cared for by all of the pupils in school, following a rota system and can roam the fields across our outdoor space. The children collect the eggs that have been laid each day, help to clean the coop and feed them.

---

The Allotment Area

Our allotment area consists of:

• A planting bed for each class to tend to, sewing their own seeds and planting their own bulbs.
• A composting area for the children to learn about decomposing material and how to be efficient with our waste.
• A gardening shed full of equipment for the children to use during their outdoor learning sessions.
• Recently planted trees to create an orchard.
• Bird feeders to educate our pupils about caring for our wildlife.

---

The Campfire Area

Throughout school, all of our pupils visit the campfire to:

• Learn how to build a fire.
• Find out what we need to create a fire.
• Experience sitting around a campfire and sing songs, listen to stories and toast marshmallows!
• Talk about experiences in the great outdoors, camping trips that our children may have been on, excursions and days out that have involved being in the wild.

---

The Solar Dome

We have recently had our new Solar Dome installed and the children are extremely excited to start lessons inside!

The PTA have worked hard alongside Miss Taylor to raise funds for the Solar Dome. This is an innovative new indoor space, outside. We have hosted a range of events, including a Christmas Extravaganza and Halloween Disco to raise money and have also looked to local nature grants to support our project. 

The Solar Dome is now installed and ready for lessons. Each term our Subject Leaders will be taking ownership of the space, theming it around a particular subject and ensuring it is a space where new skills can be learnt. First up is a scientific space, where children can develop their thinking scientifically skills and have a go at a range on enquiries inside.

The Solar Dome is also a fantastic space for circle time, story time and music lessons and we can’t wait to hear what the children have to say about it.