Outdoor Learning at Sandown
At Sandown, outdoor learning is embedded across our curriculum. We believe children learn best through meaningful, hands-on experiences, and our extensive outdoor spaces provide rich opportunities to explore, investigate and connect learning to the real world.
Our Vision
We are committed to making strong links to the National Curriculum through teaching in a range of inspiring outdoor environments; learning about, in and through the environment; empowering confident teachers to take learning outdoors wherever possible; and becoming a more environmentally responsible school. Our pupil-led group, Eco Committee, supports this mission through initiatives and promotes eco-friendly practices across the school.
Outdoor Learning Across the School
From Reception to Year 6, each class has a dedicated term during which they work weekly with our Outdoor Learning Practitioner. Reception children also benefit from a weekly outdoor learning session throughout the year.
Reception: Children explore food and farming, learning where food comes from and what plants and animals need to survive. They plant and grow vegetables in their outdoor area, explore the woods independently and follow animal trails looking for wildlife and signs such as tracks and habitats.
Year 1: Pupils learn about shelters and materials, design and build prototype models, and then work together to create and evaluate a woodland play den.
Year 2: Children study plant growth from seeds and bulbs, observing and recording changes in our garden and allotment while learning what plants need to stay healthy.
Year 3: Pupils explore the requirements of plants for growth, identify parts of flowering plants, and understand how structure relates to function, including roots, stems, leaves, and flowers.
Year 4: Linked to Art’s Warp and Weft, children use natural materials to create looms and explore large-scale weaving. They also connect outdoor learning to their DT project, Good Food, Fresh Food, investigating how fruit and vegetables are grown.
Year 5: Pupils grow vegetables in the allotment to make soup, deepening their understanding of plant reproduction. They also study Land Art, creating artwork using natural materials.
Year 6: Children care for our Legacy Garden, learning to plant, prune, weed and maintain flowers. This special space allows them to reflect on their Sandown journey and share it with their families.
Through outdoor learning, our pupils develop confidence, curiosity and a lasting respect for the natural world.
