Eco-schools is an on going award scheme that gets the school and the local community involved in making the school environment better. Eco-schools is made up of a committee of Teachers, Parents and children who meet and discuss what project will be taken and how we are going to achieve the aims required to get and keep the award.
In June 2001 D’Eyncourt Primary School was awarded the Eco-schools green flag for our work on litter and recycling, and improving the environment around us. The Juniors spent a day picking up litter in the streets around school and planting the borders outside the class rooms.
In 2002/2003 looked at ways in which we can conserve water and also how important access to clean water is in Third World countries. We took part in the Blue Peter Wateraid appeal by holding a bring and buy sale.
In 2004/2005 green recycling bins were introduced into each of the classrooms. The bins are used to collect scrap white paper, there is always plenty around after we have been cutting out.
In 2006, Anne Nagle, a composting advisor, came to talk to us about how to effectively compost our fruit waste at playtimes. She gave us bins and caddies to collect waste in. We intend to use the compost we make in our Reception class garden next year.
To find out more about Anne Nagle and recyling - Click on the Link (right).
In 2007 we added water butts to our Junior playground to collect waste rain water.
To find out
more about
ECO-SCHOOLS - Click on the
Link (left).
Our aim this year is to become a Forest School. We are undertaking training so that one of our teachers will become a fully qualified Forest School Leader. This will help us to take more advantage of the wonderful resource we have in our School Environmental Area.
'A Forest School is an innovative educational approach to
outdoor play and learning'.
The philosophy of Forest Schools is to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences.
By participating in engaging, motivating and achievable tasks and activities in a woodland environment each participant has an opportunity to develop intrinsic motivation, sound emotional and social skills. These, through self awareness can be developed to reach personal potential.
So Forest Schools will aim to develop:
Self Awareness
Self Regulation
Intrinsic motivation
Empathy
Good social communication skills
Independence
A positive mental attitude, self-esteem and confidence
Forest Schools has demonstrated success with children of all ages who visit the same local woodlands on a regular basis and through play, who have the opportunity to learn about the natural environment, how to handle risks and most importantly to use their own initiative to solve problems and co-operate with others. Children use full sized tools, play, learn boundaries of behaviour; both physical and social, establish and grow in confidence, self-esteem and become self motivated.
Forest School, through its application of Accelerated Learning techniques creates a unique learning vehicle that is used to encourage a range of individuals, community groups and larger organisations to utilise their local open space for interactive play, health, recreation and personal development uses.
Children, and more and more adults, need time to thoroughly explore their thoughts, feelings and relationships. This time and reflective practice develops understanding of the world, the environment and everything within it through the use of emotions, imagination and senses.
The previous statements have been copied from the Forest Schools Web site - Click Link (below)
to find out more.
Click on the Link button (left) - to visit our Environmental Garden and see what the Infants have been doing...
