Outdoor Learning at Harbour Wood – Living Our REACH Values

At KPS, outdoor learning is at the heart of our whole-school approach. We believe that taking learning beyond the classroom creates opportunities for children to develop skills and values that last a lifetime.

During our August training day, staff explored hands-on, practical activities using resources from our school grounds and additional equipment funded through an EA initiative in Harbour Wood. Each year group faced a creative challenge designed to inspire curiosity and teamwork:

• P1, P2 and LSC brought the story Not A Box to life by transforming boxes into imaginative creations that were meaningful to them.

• P3 engineered a zip line to transport a picnic basket, inspired by The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch.

• P4 built an air raid shelter, P5 designed a rocket, P6 constructed a Viking longship, and P7 tackled the challenge of creating a self-standing Penny Farthing!

These activities were rich in SPICE and STEM elements, showing how outdoor learning can be fun, engaging, and deeply educational. In addition, they reflected our REACH values:

• Responsibility – taking ownership of ideas and resources.

• Enthusiasm – embracing challenges with energy and creativity.

• Ambition – aiming high with imaginative designs and problem-solving.

• Cooperation – working together to achieve shared goals.

• Happy and Healthy – enjoying active, outdoor experiences that support wellbeing.

Every staff member that attended fully immersed themselves in the tasks and presented their Master pieces with great enthusiasm and pride. It really was a fun session and feedback suggested that it was useful to explore the new resources on site and helped with ideas moving forward. Our  school is committed to making outdoor education accessible, enjoyable, and integral to school life. By sharing good practice and building confidence, we ensure that every lesson outdoors is child-led, manageable, and meaningful. At Harbour Wood, outdoor learning isn’t just an activity—it’s a way of living our values every day.