Eco-Schools & Outdoor Learning

Eco-Schools & Outdoor Learning

Why they make a difference at Rosehill School and for our wider community

At Rosehill School we are committed to outdoor learning as this teaches life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and creativity. Essentially, it improves children's health and wellbeing.

Being an Eco-School has had a positive impact on our school community, as not only has it promoted an increase in outdoor learning, it has helped empower our pupils to raise environmental awareness, improve the school environment and also has created financial savings for the school. Furthermore, it engages the wider local community and links to our broad and balanced curriculum.

Making a difference to pupils’ lives

Our Outdoor Learning and Eco-Schools programme provides a unique opportunity for pupils to lead change within the school and is having a positive impact on our wider community. The programme started in 2019, where the Student Council encouraged pupils of all ages and abilities to work together to develop their knowledge and environmental awareness. Together the school redeveloped our Woodland Walk Area to make it into a safe haven for wildlife.

Independent research into Outdoor Learning and Eco-School programmes in England found evidence of the positive impacts on pupils, including increased confidence, development of leaderships skills, improved pupil well-being and behaviour and greater motivation at school.

Waste less and save money

As well as the pupil benefits, which are having a hugely positive effect on the whole school community, we are reducing our environmental impact and carbon footprint. Our school is trying to use less water and energy and produce less waste – in turn saving money that is being allocated elsewhere in the school. Examples of activities we are doing to achieve this include; placing time clocks in outdoor lights and hot water boilers and turning lights off, when they are not needed.

Pupils across KS3-5 have ensured that a clear system is in place for recycling and they regularly promote the concept of reusing and upcycling.

Being part of something global

Eco-Schools is a global initiative, therefore our pupils will join millions of children from 67 countries in creating change for the benefit of future generations!

Projects

Developing the Outdoor Learning Environment

We have developed our outdoor quad area to provide well-defined learning zones e.g. the maths zone and the recycling zone. We now have an Outdoor Classroom called the DEN and a Sensory Circuit.

The People's Forest

As part of Rosehill’s Eco-Schools work worked with ‘Robin Hood’ in establishing The People’s Forest!

Alongside the work of Nottingham City, as part of the celebration of the redevelopment of Nottingham Castle 2020-2022, The Castle Trust worked with Rosehill and other primary schools in Nottingham to plant oak trees.

This means that Rosehill is now part of the spiral of oaks running from Nottingham Castle all the way to the heart of Sherwood Forest, The Major Oak.

The People’s Forest project was launched by Nottingham Open Spaces Forum, who bought together all of the ‘friends’ groups of all of Nottingham city’s parks and open spaces.

The project has reconnected the city with Sherwood Forest through the planting of trees in schools, community gardens and other open spaces and creates a network of ‘forest school’ activities, embedding an enthusiasm for caring for our environment in all of the city’s young people and for future generations.

Eco-Schools Woodland Walk Project

Area of exceptional practice: Outdoor Learning

To celebrate World Disability Day, Rosehill School was contacted by employees volunteering to offer their support for a day’s project at school. We decided that The Woodland Walk would benefit from a make-over and also to build on some of the learning opportunities that it is able to offer. Volunteers from a local company Cognizant, alongside teachers, teaching assistants, the site manager and pupils worked extremely hard to develop the area, make resources and complete some gardening tasks.

Key learning objectives / subject areas

To use gardening skills to prepare the site: sweep leaves, cut branches, plant bulbs and woodland flowers to attract insects
To prepare sensory resources to appeal to groups of sensory learners: coloured feely ribbons, bell chimes, wind chimes
To take part in art activities to prepare additional experiences for pupils to take part in as part of using the Woodland Walk for learning experiences: number footprints, number concrete footprints, fairy doors, toadstools
Each class to take part in a competition to design and build the best wind chime

Outcomes for pupils / evidence

Fun and exciting learning opportunities

Using new materials and designing objects of beauty

Working alongside new pupils and adults

Experiencing taking part in a whole school competition

Outdoor learning and developing life skills

Wider community outcomes

The Woodland Walk will now be an additional teaching and learning space to be used by all pupils and young people at Rosehill School. This will open up opportunities for developing outside learning in additional areas of the curriculum to be enjoyed by pupils of all ages and abilities.

The following day there was a celebration of work completed and sharing of achievements by pupil, teams and members of staff.

Article from Nottingham City Council:

Rosehill plants first oak tree for the People's Forest

Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham put aside their differences to plant the FIRST oak tree in our #PeoplesForest in Nottingham.

Rosehill Special School is the first in our project with Nottingham Open Spaces Forum to plant oak trees in primaries across the city - linking the Castle to Sherwood Forest.

https://westbridgfordwire.com/plans-to-plant-oak-trees-between-nottingham-castle-and-sherwood-forest/

To see more photos also check out the MyNottingham Twitter:

https://twitter.com/MyNottingham/status/1232268801024155648?s=20