We need your help!!
Our project aims to improve our outdoor space to support outdoor learning, nurturing sessions, and socialising areas for both pupils and the wider community. We believe this development would have a significant positive impact by creating safe, welcoming spaces where people can learn outdoors, relax, and talk privately.
We would like to introduce reading huts with a calm, nurturing atmosphere to support different needs and stress levels. These spaces would provide quiet areas for reading, wellbeing sessions, and private conversations. We also plan to create outdoor learning and social spaces that can be used for group sessions, relationship-building, and activities that require privacy. In addition, we hope to include an active learning area that encourages confidence-building, teamwork, making new friends, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
Outdoor learning already plays an important role in our school. Many pupils take part in outdoor sessions, including our Young Carers programme, which works closely with Wilderness Tribe in our forest school area. These sessions allow young carers to discuss their worries and stresses, enjoy time outdoors, and benefit from respite alongside others in similar situations. However, there are currently no suitable seating or sheltered areas where they can comfortably sit and talk. Wilderness Tribe also uses our outdoor area for a community group supporting men’s mental health, and we believe relaxing huts and seating areas would greatly benefit these sessions outside of school hours.
Our pupils also work closely with local care homes and a community group called “Here and Now,” which provides social activities for elderly people to help them stay active and connected. Pupils regularly visit The Willows Care Home and Here and Now, and they greatly value these experiences. One of our goals this year is to invite these groups into school more often so they can take part in shared activities with our pupils. As we are a small school with limited indoor space, developing outdoor areas would allow us to host these sessions in a safe, accessible, and welcoming environment. Our pupils are particularly enthusiastic about having reading huts where they can enjoy calm reading and social sessions with elderly visitors.
Overall, this project would provide long-term social, emotional, and wellbeing benefits for our pupils and the wider community.
