THE UNIVERSITY of Reading has provided new outdoor learning spaces to two schools in Shinfield to mark Outdoor Classroom Day.
The university worked with Shinfield St Mary’s C.E. Junior School and Shinfield Infant and Nursery School to develop sites into learning spaces, including the input of teachers and students, to help students get closer to nature while learning.
Shinfield St Mary’s C.E. Junior School now has access to a meadow classroom complete with a pond with a wooden bridge;; new planting and footpaths, and wildlife habitats.
The site features bee mounds; a large wooden bug hotel; bird boxes and hedgehog homes; a learning circle with wooden benches; and new gates and fencing.
Shinfield Infant and Nursery School has had a small woodland copse made available to them a few minutes’ walk from the school site.
The new site provides a calming, nurturing environment for smaller groups of children, especially those who often struggle with social engagement and behavioural problems.
The university worked to make the space fit by clearing litter, cutting back overgrown brambles and nettles, and installing low-impact fencing.
It also installed new wooden benches and a bin at the request of the school children, as well as weather-proof anti-litter signs using the children’s artwork, set to be produced at the university’s print studio.
It came as part of an initiative marking Outdoor Classroom Day, a global campaign to get children outdoors to play and learn at school.
The university also hosted events at the schools to mark the official opening of the sites, which saw students taking part in nature-based activities such as tree planting, conker crafting, and creating seed bombs.
The events also supplemented the university’s commitment to the National Education Nature Park initiative, instigated by the Department for Education.
The initiative aims to help children understand nature and biodiversity, especially in relation to wider climate issues.
Professor Helen Bilton, an expert in outdoor learning and play at the University’s Institute of Education, opened both of the school events.
Professor Bilton said: “It is vital for young children to have regular access to nature and the chance to learn through play.
“Learning outside a traditional classroom has many benefits for children, from physical, to psychological to social.
“It is fantastic the University has been able to provide these outdoor learning spaces, to help local school children enjoy nature and connect with it in a new way.
“It is important that we inspire younger generations to understand and care for nature, so that they can help nurture and protect it in the future.”
Matt Knight, Head of Ecology and Sustainabilty at Shinfield St Mary’s Junior School, said: “It has been fantastic working with the University on the meadow project.
“They kept us involved throughout the process; our children were actually able to design many of the features in the area–the team were brilliant, they really helped the children’s ideas come to life.
“We pride ourselves on our outdoor provision at Shinfield St Mary’s and projects like this help to further improve the quality of learning available to the children.
“We look forward to working with the University in the future, continuing our close relationship with their education department.”
