Taking learning beyond the classroom is key to the learning journey for our children at Wilden. We don’t want children or staff to feel constrained by the four walls of their classroom.
A whole school curriculum approach
As a school we have a commitment to taking learning beyond the classroom in all areas of the curriculum, which was recognised in our Gold ‘Learning outside the Classroom award’. This learning may take many different forms. We look for opportunities to take lessons outdoors whenever possible for example; practical maths lessons on the playground, observational drawing on the field, orienteering around the grounds, drama on the outdoor stage and mini beast hunting in forest school.
Reaching Further
At Wilden we look for ways to enhance our children’s curriculum experience beyond what can be delivered in the classrooms. It is important to us to take the children beyond our school grounds on trips and visits which provide unique learning opportunities.
On our doorstep
Our children feel engaged with the local environment and community around our school. Our church is an extension to our building. We visit it weekly for worship as well as regularly using it as a quiet reflective space, a resource for RE lessons and inspiration for art projects.
Children walk regularly to the cricket club where we have full use of their facilities, go on walks along the disused railway line or explore the fascinating wildlife around Wilden marshes. Stourport town has a fascinating history and a simple walk to the canal and locks brings to life many elements of our history, geography and science curriculum. All of these things are on our doorstep and incorporated into our curriculum.
Reaching Further
Visits are carefully planned for every class from our pre-school children to year 6. We look for unique experiences that enhance our curriculum, but also widen children’s cultural experiences. We have fostered excellent relationships with many organisations that help us to create unique opportunities e.g. a fruit tasting session at a local farm, choosing plants for the school at a garden centre, singing at residential homes and workshops based around canal and river safety and history.
Due to the specialist nature of our trips many of them are very low cost to our families. We also however provide some larger scale trips that for our children that may not otherwise get to experience, for example residential outdoor pursuits trips, London theatre visits, Warwick castle and Leicester Space Centre.