Outdoor Learning

The best classroom and the richest classroom is roofed only by the sky.

- Margaret McMillan

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.

Outdoor Learning Curriculum At Clapgate

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 have a school dog, named Rufus, and he has his own timetable so he gets to visit every class on a weekly basis. He is loved by all the children and they love taking him for walks during their break and lunchtimes too.

Our school pond is designed for our children to have a go at pond dipping – there is a variety of pondlife for children to learn about and catch with nets, including tadpoles. 

We place a high value on outdoor learning at Clapgate, so much so that we have created our own curriculum so that every class have at least an hours lesson per week. Take a look at what each year group do and learn in the link below:

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

Pupils’ Voice

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

  • “We learned how to make a shelter in case it snows. We will know how to survive in wild.” – Year 1 Pupil.
  • “We made models of houses and burned them in the campfire area to see how fast the fire spread in 1666 [Great Fire of London]. We also cooked bread over the campfire, like the baker did, before the fire happened. It helps us to remember what we have learnt” – Year 2 pupil.
  • “We made worry dolls from Y sticks and held them together using elastic bands. I still have mine under my pillow at home. I know when I have a worry, I can tell my doll and it will make me feel better.” – Year 3 pupil.
  • “It’s important to know extra life skills that we learn in outdoor learning like how to put up tents, how to solve problems. When we do teambuilding activities we develop tolerance, respect and resilience skills.” – Year 6 pupil.

Meet Pablo and Pedro!

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

Our Pygmy goats are now 3 years old! We have had them since they were a few months old. 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 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 and year 6 observed the eggs as they began to move and as the chicks began to peck their way out of their shells! 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 – 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 during the day. 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.
  • An orchard area with apple, pear and plum trees.
  • Bird feeders to educate our pupils about caring for our wildlife.

The Campfire Area

All of our pupils visit the campfire to:

  • Learn how to build a fire.
  • Find out what we need to create a fire and how to safely extinguish a fire.
  • Experience sitting around a campfire, sing songs and listen to stories.
  • Gain experience of cooking over a fire, for example, cooked apples, nachos, bread and the favourite – s’mores!
  • 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.
School Address:

Clapgate Primary School
10 Cranmore Drive
Belle Isle
Leeds
LS10 4AW

School Contacts:

Headteacher: Mrs Singleton
Deputy Headteacher: Miss Taylor
SENDCO: Mrs Lawton
Office: Mrs Austin, Miss Johnson, Mrs Belt and Miss Stamp
Chair of Governors: Mr Bache

Clapgate Primary Logo

Tel: 0113 271 6700
Email: clapgate@clapgateprimaryschool.org

© Clapgate Primary School 2024
Site by iTCHYROBOTItchyrobot Logo
Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy
Admin

Privacy Policy

We regard your privacy as important and any personal information you give to us will be used in accordance with the Data Protection Act and the General Data Protection Regulations.

We do not store personal information about individuals who visit this site except where they provide contact information via our contact us page and contact forms available on various pages throughout the website.

Any information you provide will only be used for the reasons specified and it will not be shared with any third party without your consent, unless required by law.

Your contact details are kept securely and are only accessed by authorised members of staff as part of the provision of school services. If you do not wish us to keep this contact information please tell us.

This website uses Google Analytics which provides statistical data about the usage of the site. This information is not used to identify individuals, but is collected to provide us with an understanding of the areas of interest on our site and how our site is being used.

If you are connected to the internet you will have an IP Address. This may take the form of a figure, such as 333.333.22.1. The address will be automatically collected and logged as part of the connection of your computer to our web server and may be used to determine the total number of visits to each part of the site. This data is not collected and used for other purposes.

This website contains links to other websites. The School is not responsible for the privacy practices of other sites or organisations and recommends you consult the privacy information on those sites.

This policy will be reviewed and updated versions will be posted on the website.

If you have any questions about the use of your personal information, the Information Commissioner is the independent regulator for both Data Protection and Freedom of Information.