At Forest Town Primary School we are very lucky to have extensive grounds including:

• two large playgrounds
• a garden area
• a large school field
• a trim trail
• a science garden
• a gazebo to use as an outdoor classroom
• a large Foundation Unit outdoor area

With all these wonderful spaces, we frequently use the outdoor environment to support our learning, providing children with hands on experiences and supporting them to make sense of the world around them by putting their learning into a meaningful context.

Recent studies have highlighted some benefits of outdoor learning for children:

• higher levels of conversational language
• greater independence
• improved health and sleeping patterns
• greater physical competence and agility
• improved time focus on activities and more concentration
• a greater understanding of nature and the environment
• improved social skills, involvement and initiative