This is the fifth in a series of ten posts about my recent visit to the 2010 Education Show in Birmingham. They document some of the products that I saw, liked and enjoyed from the exhibition.
It really liked seeing so many examples of fantastic outdoor learning spaces at the 2010 Education Show. I think all schools should have outdoor learning spaces and just like indoor learning spaces they need to be flexible and change and evolve over time. I’ve already mentioned the creative ‘Wild in Art’ sculptures that you can get for your school playground.
Anyway, these were some of the nice things that I saw:
1) As always Handmade Places had a nice range of wooden outdoor furniture. I really liked the bridge...
…and also some of the musical instruments that they had on display. I think its really important that children should be allowed to and have the opportunity to play, create and compose outside. I recently wrote about some other outdoor musical instruments that I saw at the 2010 BETT show.
2) I liked the big storytelling chair, outdoor mirrors and little toad stall seats from Red Monkey Play...
...I also liked their ‘draw me’ transparent wall that you could write on and clean. I love the idea that one child could stand on one side of the wall and another could trace around them with a special pen. Great for teaching citizenship though identity.
3) Talking of storytelling chairs, amongst other things Ray Parry Playgrounds and Playground Supplies had this great storytelling chair that I fell in love with. I would quite like on of these for the garden as well – I though the natural look and feel was fantastic.
4) Finally, I was also impressed with the philosophy and how ILA Educational Solutions sourced and built all of their products locally. The outdoor learning ‘shape’ mirrors were fantastic (reminded me of going to the Portland fun fair as a child!) but again as well as being fun a great resource to teach stereotypes, identity and difference to children.
What is the best outdoor learning space that you have seen in a UK primary and UK seocndary school? - let me know, because I'm keen to go and visit them.
The head and shoulders winner is The Coombes School in Berkshire. Susan Humphries the former HT is a consultant who visits Scotland fairly frequently to work in the Stirling area. The school has been developing its grounds from a grassy playing field and patch of tarmac for over 30 years. However, it's the creative approach to using the grounds as part of the daily learning and teaching that really makes the difference. The practice is formidably good here especially in terms of science. Learning through Landscapes have a 3 day course at the end of June which includes a visit. Contact www.ltl.org.uk
In terms of a wider outdoor learning approach there's some fantastically good practice such as Sowerby Primary and others that I can't remember off the top of my head.
In terms of secondary schools, I've never seen anything that's truly inspired me yet. However there's been some very good projects. I'd go up to Highland and see Inverness Royal Academy for their market gardening enterprise, Dornoch Academy for general outdoor learning and one of the Fort William schools does a great cross curricular project on Ben Nevis.
Closer to home, I'd be visiting some of the natural playspaces in Stirling Council and Merrylees Primary in Glasgow has had a lot of attention for various natural playground projects.
For nursery schools - go to the Cowgate U5's - the HT has an OBE for her services and the outdoor space says it all - even has a nice big musical wind chime. Also visit Mindstretchers Nature Kindergartens in Perthshire.
Posted by: Juliet Robertson | March 11, 2010 at 09:59 AM
Oh yes - I forgot to mention my blog - "I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here!".
Last week I did a wee posting about willow structures in school grounds. I'm about to do one on KapKa School in Seattle which has beautiful artwork - all completed by children, parents and staff. Click on my name if you want to have a look.
Posted by: Juliet Robertson | March 11, 2010 at 10:01 AM
Just one more thought - I eat my words about secondary schools. Whilst it's not exactly a secondary school, Raploch Community Campus in Stirling is good inspiration for secondary school folk in that the campus houses a nusery, ASN base, two primary schools and a further education college. The grounds were designed in consultation with the local community and are interesting and attractive and certainly my son who's in S2 gave it big thumbs up. I think many secondary schools would find this worth a look for starters. Plenty of grounds development opportunities still exist there, mind.
Posted by: Juliet Robertson | March 11, 2010 at 02:18 PM