Woodland Learning

Woodland School is a child centred approach to outdoor learning using our large woods on our school site.

Our Woodland Learning programme will continue for a 6 week block every term.
The programme extends the Science, Art and PE (OAA) Curriculum.
The programme will be delivered by our teachers, who are fully trained to do this. The activities planned are used as a guide for the structure of the session but the children may choose to take activities in a different direction.
Observational notes and photographs are taken during each session to document the outcomes in learning and these are recorded in class scrapbooks – please ask your child’s class teacher if you would like to take a look.

Woodlands Intent

The philosophy of our Woodlands curriculum is to encourage and inspire pupils by providing them with numerous outside opportunities to further their understanding of the immediate world around them. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful outdoor environment and our curriculum has been built around this valuable resource.

The curriculum is designed to ensure that the 5 Woodlands pillars are developed: Physical, Cognitive, Oracy, Social and Emotional.

Broken down into the following areas: Woodlands Writing, Woodlands Science, Woodlands Art, Woodlands DT, Woodlands Structures and Woodlands Humanities, each unit has been created to allow children an opportunity to consolidate their learning and understanding. Beginning in our Early Years, children will be able to show progression throughout their time at Grove.

During lessons, children are encouraged to use small parts and objects (and in some cases, larger parts) to encourage creativity, engagement and experimentation. These parts can be rearranged, combined and redesigned, allowing children to explore and invent in multiple ways.

Finally and most importantly, our Woodlands curriculum encourages children to take appropriate levels of risk in a safe environment. Experimenting, testing and exploring with an element of risk has numerous benefits. And ultimately, these benefits instill a love of learning in all our children.