Outdoor Classroom

We are very fortunate at New North to have a beautiful outdoor classroom, all of our children have regular, timetabled access to the Outdoor Classroom. Each class benefits from a minimum of an hourly slot once a week. 

Using the outdoor space has been enormously beneficial to our children, especially during the current climate. Many of the pupils at New North Academy have predominantly been indoors over the last few months and the woodland allows them a safe space to explore and regain confidence in the outside and in nature. 

The Outdoor Classroom is being used to support a variety of lessons from across the curriculum. For example: KS1 have used it to support counting in maths; lower KS2 have focused on using nature in Art and DT; while upper KS2 have incorporated the space into teaching humanities. 

Furthermore, teaching staff have commented that children who are feeling unsettled in a traditional classroom environment have become more relaxed and willing to engage through the Outdoor Classroom. This was noted by one Yr4 child who said “I love going outside - it makes my learning more exciting!”. This has particularly supported lower-attaining, disengaged pupils and reinvigorated their drive to learn. 

Staff have also observed that pupils who have SEND needs have benefited due to the multisensory environment. Therefore, this richer learning environment allows progress for all of our pupils and is being used as a resource in some SEN support plans.  

Please come and have an explore, particularly if you are a community group that would like to work with us. To book a visit please send an email to: info@lihtrust.uk