Learning outside the classroom

George Bernard Shaw said that as a child he had an excellent education, except where school got in the way.  He is not the only person to think that way.   Do you remember the best Maths lesson you ever had?  Nor me.  How many Geography lessons did you have as a child? How many stand out?  Now think about the school days that were memorable – it’s a fair bet they include examples of learning outside the classroom.  Doubtless there are some people who enjoy sitting still, listening to a stream of information, learning by rote. For the rest of us there is learning outside the classroom.

For children with special educational needs – whether that means difficulties with communication, mobility, attention or retention – the shortcomings of classroom learning can be even more pronounced.  For these children working outside the classroom can provide new routes into learning. According to Ofsted  LotC “contributed significantly to . . . improving pupils' personal, social and emotional development” (OFSTED (2008) Learning outside the classroom: how far should you go?) This is as true for children with SEN as for the general school population. 

A museum visit or outing to your local castle will make a more effective history lesson than hours in school.  An archery session, supporting a project on the Normans or Robin Hood, will make history come alive.  A trip to a community farm or a country park will give a better understanding of the countryside than books or interactive white boards.  A river expedition may provide a memory that lasts for years.  Lessons learned can go far beyond the school curriculum and be genuinely life changing. 

At QE2 Activity Centre we can provide a programme with a balance of activities which stretch each individual and develop independence, activities which encourage team work and co-operation and activities which help students better appreciate and understand the world around them.  Talk to us about the programme you want, what fits with this term’s curriculum focus, areas you want your students to develop. 

A typical weekly timetable starts with arrival early Monday afternoon (between 1:00 and 3:00 is recommended).  At 3:00 we bring all our week’s visitors together.  We talk about safety on site and in the cabins.  It is an opportunity to go through the timetable for the coming days so that people know what to expect.  Then generally we’ll have a tour of the Centre and take a walk down to the river which, after a few hours in a minibus, is usually a good time to acclimatise to the new surroundings, get a feel for the woods, see the river and the sort of boats we’ll be using, meet some of the staff, become comfortable with a new area, without any pressure.  There’s an excellent play area where we usually stop too!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the activity days with three two hour sessions each day.  Typically these will include canoeing, orienteering or adventure walk, motorboat, bushcraft, climbing, archery, ropes course, team challenge and zipwire.  However we are flexible and can introduce other activities – from day expeditions to crab fishing to history and geography trails.

Friday is departure day, with certificates and a debrief before leaving.

The self catering cabins allow for the development of independent living skills, not just the practicalities of cooking, washing up and vacuuming but being away from home, spending time with others, developing new and different relationships.  So give us a call and make a booking!

PHIL OATES

MANAGER

QE2 Activity Centre