Events Calendar

Wellbeing and the Outdoors

Suitable for all Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers and practitioners. Understand human development within a nature-centric model. Our senses and well-being. The prevalence of ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences and how we can best support children. Key themes: Health and wellbeing. Session outline: Behaviour is communication. This Webinar will explore how we can support children’s […]

From Toad Abodes to Mini Meadows

Suitable for Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 teachers. Discuss key wildlife habitats available in school grounds. Look at how to create a variety of different habitats to encourage wildlife and become a learning resource. Explore tools we can use to monitor and survey for wildlife in our school grounds. Key themes: Using Learning Outside […]

Mapping Your Patch of Nature

Suitable for Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 teachers and SLT. Understand the benefits of using habitat mapping and ways to use it to support learning outside the classroom. Understand how experiences gained during outdoor learning can support grounds development and later measure its success. Develop connectivity within school grounds and with surrounding environment to […]

Nature as Teacher

Suitable for all teachers and SLT. Look at the intelligence of Nature. Learn from rather than learn about Nature. Develop an inquisitive relationship. Key themes: Using Learning Outside the Classroom to deliver specific curriculum topics. Session outline: Using the science of Biomimicry we will look at the patterns found in Nature through the wildlife encountered […]

Would zoo animals survive on the Downs?

Suitable for Key Stage 1, 2, 3 and 4 science teachers. Learn about the adaptations of Drusillas zoo animals and their native habitats. Find out which might survive in the UK. Learn about Invasive Alien Species regulations. Key themes: Using Learning Outside the Classroom to deliver specific curriculum subjects and topics. Session outline: Drusillas Park is […]

Supporting literacy outdoors

Suitable for EYFS and Key Stage 1 teachers. Understand the learning and development benefits of holistic play. How to plan for outdoor learning including health and safety aspects. Low cost ideas and resources for taking literacy learning outdoors. Key themes: Using Learning Outside the Classroom to deliver specific curriculum subjects. Session outline: This course will […]

Literacy and Expression in the Great Outdoors

Suitable for Key Stage 2 teachers (Year 4 to 6). Draw on the heritage and South Downs National Park landscape to stimulate language development and writing. Provide practical routes into cross-curricular and whole-class exploration that focuses on wellbeing and creative expression. Key themes: Using Learning Outside the Classroom to deliver specific curriculum subjects and health […]

Into Nature – the woods, the playground or the coast!

Suitable for all Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers and practitioners. Outdoor based child-led & adult-led curriculum outcomes. Core routines & practical ideas for wilder and urban spaces. How to Forest School activity ideas. Key themes: Using woodland effectively. Session outline: Access to the outdoors and play is essential for healthy child development and learning. […]

Surviving Covid: How a zoo and visitor attraction has managed!

Suitable for Key Stage 4 geography teachers and Key Stage 4 and 5 Business and Tourism teachers. Learn about a successful business within the Downs. How business has adapted to Covid challenges and survived. How customer service has been maintained. Key themes: Using Learning Outside the Classroom to deliver specific curriculum subjects and topics. Session outline: Drusillas […]

The Naughty Normans and the South Downs!

Suitable for Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 teachers. Deliver specific curriculum topic of the Normans. Encouraging schools and students to link occurrences in their studies to the South Downs in Sussex. Encouraging schools to consider a Norman Sussex History study day or trip. Key themes: Using Learning Outside the Classroom to deliver specific curriculum […]

Become a Wilder School – Improving your school grounds for wildlife and outdoor learning

Suitable for all Key Stages, SLT, governors and grounds maintenance teams. How to map and identify the best areas to use for outdoor learning and wildlife habitats on your school grounds. Easy low-cost ideas that you could do with your class to improve your grounds for wildlife. How to assess and minimise the impact of […]

What wildlife is living on your school grounds?

Suitable for Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers. Discover the different species which may be living on your school grounds. Build confidence in identifying them using identification keys. Get tips on how to work with your class to identify different species and how to integrate this into your curriculum teaching. Key themes: Fieldwork training. Session […]

Bring out your Belloc and capture your inner Kipling!

Suitable for Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 teachers. Deliver specific curriculum areas through the South Downs in poetry and writing. Encouraging schools and students to create their own writing about the South Downs after exploring the verse and prose of Sussex poets and writers past and present. Encouraging students to investigate further Sussex writers […]

Munching Caterpillars: Lifecycles, Adaptations and Food Chains

Suitable for Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers. Understand how to use butterflies and moths to teach key science themes such as habitats, lifecycles, adaptation and food chains – outside. Gain a toolkit of outdoor activities which encourage children to explore the wildlife around them and link it to key curriculum outcomes. Use our engaging […]

Roman’ over the South Downs!

Suitable for Key Stage 2 and 3 teachers. Deliver specific curriculum topics – in this case on the Romans in Sussex. Encouraging schools and students to link occurrences in their studies to the South Downs in Sussex. Encouraging schools to plan/consider a Sussex Roman History study day or trip. Key themes: Using Learning Outside the […]

Sussex and the South Downs: County of Conflict

Suitable for Key Stage 2, 3 and 4 teachers. Deliver specific curriculum topics, e.g. South Downs in wartime. Encouraging schools and students to link their studies of WWI/II & Tudor warfare to the South Downs in Sussex. Encouraging schools to consider a wartime Sussex History study day or trip involving the Sussex Downs. Key themes: […]

Farming in your school grounds — Woodland Focus

Suitable for teachers and staff across all Key Stages. Teachers will be confident in their understanding of how food is produced and grown on the farm. Teachers will have a good understanding of how farming is managed to care the environment. Teachers will be inspired to use farming and food production in their teaching, specifically […]