posted by Alita Spink, Schools and Learning Support Officer, Schools and Learning
Grounds for Learning
Raising attainment through outdoor learning and play in Scotland
May 2017
A selection of lessons for developing numeracy:
Early Years:
Is it bigger or smaller? – click here
Get into shapes – click here
More ideas – series 1 and series 2
Primary
How do you measure a tree or school building? – click here
Data Handling Outside – click here
Getting to Grips with equations –click here
Estimation and measure – through the Olympics – click here
More ideas here and here
Secondary
How fast is that car? (Speed, distance, time) – click here
Orienteering (grid, speed and direction) – click here
More ideas here
Training
A sample of our training courses:
Professional Accreditation – This is aimed at education professionals or school grounds designers who wish to deliver projects for customers in schools and nurseries. You will have two years experience of training teachers or educators; or two years of landscape design to be considered for this programme. As an LTL Accredited Professional, you will benefit from contacts and resources to help you as well as opportunity to tender for work with GfL/LTL. Enquire here
Long Term Courses:
Developing a Whole School Approach to Outdoor Learning – this new programme for 2017/18 will support a school or cluster of schools to develop a whole school approach to outdoor learning and learning for sustainability. Through a series of training inputs and facilitated collegiate sessions, your whole staff team will develop the confidence, skills and resources required to transform your pupils experiences. More information here
Lead Teacher in Outdoor Learning – this proven training programme supports teachers to lead curricular learning in school grounds and local greenspace. Using the mantra “don’t do more, do different’, we consider literacy, numeracy, science and health and wellbeing outcomes from the CfE. In addition, the programme expects participants to share learning in their school. Book your place here
Nurturing Nature (Early Years)
Developed from our long term programme, this course works collaboratively with educators, children and parents. It will transform relationships between everyone involved, and deliver real health and wellbeing benefits to the children who participate. Read more and book here
Day or half day Courses
Taking Learning Outdoors – this inspiring and engaging single day course is ideal for schools who want to support less confident staff in using school grounds as part of their practice. We only have a couple of spaces available for the August in-service days, so do book quickly.
We have Literacy Outdoors and Meaningful Maths INSET days, ideal for supporting Attainment Challenge outcomes. Evidence and guidance confirms that pupils are more motivated and engaged when learning outdoors, and that some of our numeracy and literacy outcomes are best taught in the contexts outside of classroom walls.
Playtime Revolution – is a programme that will transform break time in your school. Either run by GfL Staff or self-led by schools, this course was written to support the Good School Playground Guide. You can read more about it here and find the resources here
Project news
Learning in Local Greenspace
Across Scotland, 100 schools will receive support for two years to make more use of local green space for outdoor learning as part of this project. The use of local space reduces time, cost and complexity, as well as embedding a sense of ‘place’ for learners, empowering them to affect and care for their local environment. If you are a school in West Lothian (particularly) or Fife, and score in the lowest 20% SMID, we would really like to hear from you – mrobinson@ltl.org.uk and 01786 465 934
Polli:Nation
This project is now in full swing, with hundreds of schools having surveyed their grounds and now making changes to make them more pollinator friendly. There are a huge number of resources on the website – do have a browse and be inspired by what learning is going on across the UK.
Outdoor Classroom Day
Yesterday over 1m children in the UK were outdoors, learning and playing in the outdoors for Outdoor Classroom Day. You can find out more about the project here and be inspired by some of the images and practice on Twitter.
Funding Ideas
Pupil Equity Fund
We have a number of schools who are using their PEF funding to access our training and consultancy, or for improving the outdoor environment of their school. In some local authorities this is being co-ordinated, so that a number of schools can access our long term courses together such as Lead Teacher in Outdoor Learning. If you are interested in this, please call Alison Motion or Matt Robinson on 01786 465 934.
Local School Nature Grants
The first round of our Local School Nature Grants has concluded, and was very oversubscribed. Please do apply again, or for the first time as our ongoing rounds have more money available and fewer applicants.
The grants are a combination of equipment/resources and training for staff, with a simple application form and process. More information and apply here.
School Funding for Environmental Projects
Schools and local community groups can apply for funding of up to £2,000 through the Greggs Foundation. The closing date for applications is the 24th June 2017. More information here
The type of activities that could be funded include for example:
A growing project in a local primary school
A group of volunteers who completed litter picking exercises in their local parks or along a local riverbank
Clearing an area of wasteland in an area of high social need to create a community garden; etc.
Staff news
A big thank you to Juno Hollyhock and Lorna Sloan who we have said goodbye to us this month. Lorna has worked with many of you in Early Years has headed off to join John Muir Trust and East Ayrshire education. Juno has moved on after 5 years of leading LTL through challenging times, and leaves our organisation and team in a much stronger place. Thank you to both of you.
Carley Sefton has been appointed as our new CEO, based in Winchester in the LTL offices. Carley will be up in Scotland regularly from August on, as she leads our teams in the next chapter of the adventure.
Gordon Maclean joins us as Early Years and Parenting Officer. Based in central Scotland, Gordon will lead our ongoing Nurturing Nature programme, some Local Schools Nature Grants work and ongoing training and consultancy work.
