We believe that every child should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development. These are often the most memorable learning experiences which can be remembered for a life time; helping make sense of the world around us by making links between feelings and learning. Learning outside the classroom is about raising achievement through an organised, powerful approach to learning in which direct experience is of prime importance. This is not only about what we learn but importantly how and when we learn.

At St Mildred's we incorporate learning outside the classroom into our daily curriculum. Across all year groups we aim to take learning beyond the four internal walls and our learning environment has been developed across the school in order to facilitate learning outside the classroom. We believe that the outdoor environment is an important part of children’s learning. Being outdoors has a positive impact on children’s sense of well-being and helps all aspects of their development.

Our school benefits from its own Forest School site (as well as shared access to Bromstone Primary’s larger site), garden area, and outdoor classroom spaces. Year R and 1 have their own dedicated outdoor spaces and allow children to develop, become independent and take risks. These areas reflect what is within the classroom, including topic work and learning activities. Our topics are carefully planned to ensure that there are lots of opportunities to enhance learning across a wide variety of environments and experiences and play a key role in skills transference; problem solving; skills for life and a life long love of learning.  

Our onsite outdoor learning environments include:

• literacy and writing areas, story chair, puppet theatre
• Foundation Stage outdoor area
• Year 1 Courtyard
• Role play areas
• Mud kitchens
• Quiet spaces
• Growing spaces, including our garden area and mini allotment
• Outdoor classrooms
• Large field area
• Hard surfaces for shape and number activities for example
• Forest School Area
• Cycle track, Climbing and exploring equipment (tyres and trim trail)
• Writing shed
• Reading garden
• Stage areas
• Large sand pit
• Natural materials/Loose parts construction areas
• Outside music equipment