Primary school brochure

Adventure Learning for Primary Schools

WH6382 - Primary School Brochure V4 REPRO.indd 1 06/07/2012 16:21:08

Contact usGeneral enquiriesWidehorizons Central Office77 Bexley RoadLondonSE9 2PE

[email protected] 8850 1581www.widehorizons.org.uk

Widehorizons Centre contacts;Widehorizons Environment Centre (Eltham, London)020 8850 2615 [email protected]

Widehorizons Horton Kirby Centre (Kent)01322 863 465 [email protected]

Widehorizons Townsend Centre (Swanage, Dorset)01929 422 448 [email protected]

Widehorizons Bryntysilio Centre (Llangollen, Wales)01978 860 454 [email protected]

Widehorizons Ty’n y Berth Centre (Corris, Wales)01654 761 678 [email protected]

Widehorizons Margaret McMillan House (Wrotham, Kent)01732 822 651 [email protected]


Contents Welcome to WidehorizonsWe believe in adventure. We know that outdoor learning and adventure when planned and integrated into the curriculum is a powerful vehicle for the development of children and young people. The benefits of adventure are far reaching and long-lasting, ranging from immediate improvements in social skills to better longer term understanding of curriculum subjects.

Being inspired by the outdoors, the environment and adventure can have a dramatic effect on a child at primary school age. We take the responsibility of providing that inspiration very seriously, recognising the potential life-changing impact it can have.

Of course, we want to make sure that your objectives are met through what we do. Our team of experienced teachers and instructors are on hand to talk you through it at any stage – before you come to us, during and after – to make sure your learning objectives and outcomes are achieved.

Widehorizons exists to provide adventure to all children, regardless of their circumstances, so please let us know how we can help make sure as many of your pupils benefit from adventure as possible.

See you outside!

Widehorizons 03

Why Adventure? 04

Why Widehorizons? 05

Our Courses and the Primary School Curriculum 06

Activities for Primary Schools 08

Example Itineraries 09

Working with You 10

Our Centres 11

Mike PennyChief Executive, Widehorizons.


Why Adventure?

Direct experiences are the most memorable and powerful learning tools – seeing, touching and experiencing something first-hand is the best way to learn. Make it adventurous, child-centred and fun and it is impossible to forget.

Learning through adventure is a powerful personal development experience and helps promote and develop:

l Creativityl Self-confidence, self-esteem

and motivationl Teamwork and communication

skillsl Leadership and responsibilityl Decision making skillsl Independencel A positive attitude to

approaching new challengesl An open mind and the ability

to spot and utilise new opportunities

At Widehorizons, we believe that that an adventure consists of four main components:

l A Challenge l Something New l Learning l Enjoyment

We make sure that every course, every class and every activity includes all of these elements.

The benefits of learning using adventure are far reaching and long-lasting. Our experienced tutors are highly skilled at interpreting your objectives and linking adventure to the curriculum. They understand the learning outcomes for our sessions and can tailor your visit to suit you and your pupils’ objectives and needs.

We are expert in working with all children and young people including Special Educational Needs (SEN) groups, high achieving groups and those with additional emotional and behavioural requirements.

We are confident that you will see the impact on your pupils during and after your experience with Widehorizons. You’ll see increased confidence, self-esteem and co-operative behaviour. You’ll hear more developed vocabularies, more creative expression and positivity from your pupils; all combined with a new understanding of curriculum based subjects. They’ll have made some new friends, seen their teachers in a new light and picked up new curriculum knowledge in an experience they are unlikely to forget.

This is an exceptionally well run centre with committed staff and a great deal of high quality, enjoyable learning which provides memorable moments for so many young people and adults.Tony Thomas Chair of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, Nov 2011

Adventure is in our hearts, our history and our heritage. You could argue that it’s the adventurous spirit in mankind that drives progress, understanding and learning. Our ancestors learnt that the earth was round by sailing towards what they thought was the edge of the world! That certainly takes an adventurous spirit.

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Why Widehorizons?

With over 32,000 children and young people visiting our centres every year, we’ve learnt a great deal about what works, what doesn’t work and how adventure can be used most effectively to learn – all while being safe and fun.

It’s not just about a one-off experience. We invite you to a preliminary site visit to discuss your objectives, our Outreach Team can come and develop some preparatory sessions with your class or group and with our support we hope that adventure becomes part of your long-term teaching plans.

As a registered charity and with decades of experience working with primary schools, we can support you and your school in fundraising – ensuring all pupils who want to, can take part and that no one gets left behind.

We have an Outreach Team which delivers adventure in schools and six of our own centres located in England and Wales, providing inspirational settings for day visits and residential experiences. This unique combination ensures that we can provide your school with adventure that best suits your objectives.

Finally, our safety record is impeccable. With our vastly experienced staff team and our tried and tested systems and procedures, we maintain a rigorous and thorough approach to health and safety giving you, and the parents of your pupils, true peace of mind.

Learning with pen and paper was always hard for me, but I found it easy to learn a subject when you could relate it to an adventurous experience and have fun at the same time!Rob Jarvis, March 2012. Rob started his journey with Widehorizons at the age of 7, he’s now one of our staff team.

Our dedicated staff team is a unique blend of experienced, qualified teachers and outdoor instructors. This means that our activities are adventurous, educational and can be designed to meet different learning objectives.

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Our Courses and the Primary School CurriculumWe believe that adventure should be part of every child’s learning and development, and we want to support schools in creating progressive and holistic outdoor learning experiences for their pupils.

Through a combination of outreach work in schools, day visits and residential trips we can provide powerful and long lasting adventures for children that will not only develop them as individuals, but also link directly with your school’s curriculum.

Here are some of the ways we link adventure to the Primary curriculum.

Maths – learning a wide range of numeracy skills through direct ‘hands on’ challenges and activities, building real-life understanding and practical maths skills that can be taken back to the classroom.

Literacy – unlock your pupil’s creativity, understanding and interpretation of language, communication and literacy using the powerful personal experiences of taking part in new activities, seeing new places and learning new skills.

Geography and Science – immerse yourself (sometimes literally) in your subjects, experiencing first-hand the wonders of the natural world, and find out how things work and why through using real applied experiences and examples.

History – re-live the past for real and how it impacts on the present day, learning about people, places and events through experiential learning and role play.

Art, Music and Drama – using the power of new experiences, the outdoors and the natural world to unlock hidden creativity and talent.

Design and Technology – there is nothing like a ‘real-life’ survival situation to help understand the principles of practical design and problem-solving such as designing and building a raft, then using it.

Personal Adventure – using outdoor activities and expeditions to develop self-confidence, teamwork, communication and social skills. Perhaps for the first time, experiencing leadership and responsibility while developing decision-making and self-reliance abilities.

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Day VisitsDay visits are a great way to introduce your pupils to adventure and outdoor learning, helping to bring alive curriculum subjects, have new experiences and develop new skills.

We offer a wide range of day visit adventures from curriculum-based courses combining science, geography, history, literacy and numeracy with inspirational outdoor adventure and activities, to personal development courses including team-building and high adventure courses to increase confidence and self-esteem, as well as develop group work and communication skills.

Residential VisitsResidential visits allow more time to experience the adventure and activities, increasing the options and scope of what can be achieved. Staying away from home for the first time is a memorable experience for children and can teach valuable life skills. We promote a team ethic throughout the stay which introduces concepts of team work, trust and cooperation.

A residential experience also provides an ideal opportunity for teachers to better understand their pupil’s learning styles through spending time with them over the course of the week. The combination of activity and informal setting is conducive to building strong bonds between teachers and pupils.

Our residential centres are set up to work specifically with primary schools, ensuring you have facilities that really work for this age group.

Transition from KS2 to KS3Making sure children’s transition from KS2 to KS3 is positive and productive is vital and can be linked to future success. Our transition courses focus on the outcomes that are essential to ensuring that this period in a child’s life is as positive and productive as possible.

We use adventure combined with review sessions, all designed to develop the skills and attributes needed at secondary school and in the important period of change.

These include:

Co operation – working in groups, learning about negotiation and compromise.

Responsibility – taking responsibility for actions and understanding their impact on others.

Communication – expressing opinions, instructions and listening to others.

Integration – meeting new people, gaining a familiarity with new surroundings.

The activities and sessions in our transition programme are all carefully designed to include a focus on these elements, supplemented by review sessions that enhance the learning points and reinforce understanding.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Our team have many years experience of working with groups with a wide range of SEN and that’s not just our tutors and instructors, it’s all our support staff as well. This means that not only will your activities be designed especially for your pupils to get the most out of their time with us, but the overall experience will be positive, accommodating and enjoyable.

As with all of our courses, your specific objectives will be the focus of the visit and we can tailor your activities for maximum benefit.

Gifted and Talented/Potential High AchieversOur activities for these pupils are designed to add an additional challenge – stretching minds and abilities. Of course, as with all groups, there will also be an emphasis on having fun. We know from experience that a tailored programme of adventure can have a significant impact on these groups of pupils.


Day visits

Our day centres can work with you to provide a day packed full of fun,

adventure and learning which suits your objectives. Here’s an example of a day

at Widehorizons Horton Kirby Centre in rural Kent.

River Rangers

l 10:00 to 11:15 – Class shown

a wanted poster from the

‘Environment Agency’ asking

for volunteer scientists to help

investigate the local river for

certain species of fish. During

the course of this session

pupils will be asked to come up

with ideas about the methods

they would use to carry out

the investigation before going

outside to practice them.

l 11:15 to 12:00 – Playtime & Lunch

l 12:00 to 1:45 – Go to the river

to undertake investigations in

small teams. This will include

the adventure of getting into

the river, testing the speed and

temperature of the water as

well as observing invertebrates

and their habitats.

l 2:00 to 2:15 – Interpret and

discuss the results, draw

conclusions and discuss the

validity of the investigation

l 2.15 – 2.30 – Preparing to go home

Activities for Primary SchoolsWidehorizons offers a comprehensive and innovative programme of activities for primary schools designed to bring adventure to any curriculum subject. Whether our Outreach Team is working with you in your school, or you and your class are at one of our six centres, our activities and courses provide:

l Outdoor-based Literacy and Numeracy with direct curricular links for all ages including Reception and Foundation Stage.

l Environmental, Science, History and Geography activities focussed on understanding the natural world around us, how it works and how to protect it. These are specifically designed for either KS1 or KS2 pupils.

l Team-Building and Problem-Solving Challenges specially designed for KS1 and KS2 pupils to increase teamwork, cooperation, communication and leadership skills.

l High Adventure Activities building on those experienced at KS1 such as Rock Climbing and High Ropes for KS2 pupils to stretch boundaries, increase self-confidence and self-esteem, whilst learning to trust and respect others.

l Bushcraft and Survival Skills to build independence and self-reliance for KS1 and KS2 pupils by practising new skills and learning to survive in the outdoors by building shelters and camps, lighting fires and making tools and crafts.

l Journeys and Expeditions using real-life map reading, navigation and decision-making skills to learn and explore the world with specific courses designed for all age groups.

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Day visits

Our day centres can work with you to provide a day packed full of fun,

adventure and learning which suits your objectives. Here’s an example of a day

at Widehorizons Horton Kirby Centre in rural Kent.

River Rangers

l 10:00 to 11:15 – Class shown

a wanted poster from the

‘Environment Agency’ asking

for volunteer scientists to help

investigate the local river for

certain species of fish. During

the course of this session

pupils will be asked to come up

with ideas about the methods

they would use to carry out

the investigation before going

outside to practice them.

l 11:15 to 12:00 – Playtime & Lunch

l 12:00 to 1:45 – Go to the river

to undertake investigations in

small teams. This will include

the adventure of getting into

the river, testing the speed and

temperature of the water as

well as observing invertebrates

and their habitats.

l 2:00 to 2:15 – Interpret and

discuss the results, draw

conclusions and discuss the

validity of the investigation

l 2.15 – 2.30 – Preparing to go home

Example Itineraries

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Residential visitsAll of our residential centres offer different types of activities, with programmes

to suit all types of school groups. We tailor each course to suit the school and

the required outcomes but here are two examples of weeks of adventure at the

Widehorizons Townsend Centre in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast and Widehorizons

Ty’n y Berth in Wales on the southern edge of Snowdonia National Park.

Day Morning Lunch Afternoon Evening

Mon.

Tue.

Weds.

Fri.

Thurs.

Arrive at the Centre

Corfe CastleA decision making exercise which cast the pupils in the role of spies planning an attack on the castle. Pupils use information gained from a walk around the castle to plan their way into the Castle to capture the Baron.

Involves school staff participation in roles of castle inhabitants.

Peveril Rock PoolingA visit to Peveril Point to investigate the plants and animals found on the rocky shore. The focus is on identification and adaptation.

OrienteeringA final challenge using a map and photographs to find locations and hidden letters. These letters form words associated with their visit to Swanage.

Durlston Country ParkHands - on practical activities to connect with the natural world and to further understand habitats, life processes, adaptations, food chains and more. Visit woodland, cliff and downland habitats.

Option to visit Durlston Castle by arrangement.

Provided by centre

On Site

On Site

Off Site

On Site

Discover SwanageA navigation through the town to the beach to discover what delights Swanage has to offer

Team Challenge & Low RopesActivities combining teamwork and personal physical challenge on a range of low level apparatus including ropes, tyres and bridges.

Land YachtsA team challenge to design, build, test and evaluate a land yacht that will transport a test pilot for 3 metres.

Depart the Centre

Beach TechnologyStructured sand castle design and construction linked with Corfe Castle.

Smuggling Talk A magical on-site evening talk in our own quarry. Hear smugglers’ tales and find out how smuggling was organised and carried out.

Smuggling Talk A magical on-site evening talk in our own quarry. Hear smugglers’ tales and find out how smuggling was organised and carried out.

Postcards Home & Crabbing

Disco

Mondayam journey to Wales

pm arrive, settle in, course aims, equipment

eve Night walk – an introductory high impact session

designed to ice-break and build confidence, and

introduce the concepts of independence & team

working.Tuesday

am forest orienteering – remotely supervised, children

working in pairs or small teams, building on prior

experience, developing the concept of independence.

pm gorge scramble

challenge by choice, peer supporting & leadership

eve team games/problem solving – teacher led

Wednesdayam Hill Walk – ½ day route appropriate to the needs

of the group (and staff). An appreciation of the

natural environment, motivation, determination, and

leadershippm Slate Mine Exploration – a trip in a slate mine

appropriate to the needs and abilities of the group.

Personal challenge, leadership, history and culture

eve Swimming – teacher ledThursdayam Rock Climbing – reaching new heights!

Responsibility, Communication, Trust & Achievement

pm Open Canoeing – skills, games or a journey

Confidence, Co-operation, and Adventure

eve Talent Contest – teacher ledFridayam Course Review- highlighting success and

achievements depart for home

Summary of Day

A fantastic day for those of you wanting a real Horton Kirby adventure! Small teams are set

the challenge of finding their way around Farningham Woods’ Nature Reserve using maps,

compasses and instructions. This challenge is fantastic for developing teamwork skills and

geographical mapping skills. Will the class find their way out?

Key Vocabulary

l Map

l Compass

l Instructions

l Symbol

l North / South / East / West

l Stile

Prior Learning

No prior learning is essential for children to take part in this day.

To maximise children’s learning during their visit, it would be beneficial for them to:

l Have experience of using maps & compasses previously

Learning Objectives

Children will learn how geographical

information is communicated.

l Children will learn what is map is and

how it is used including using a key.

l Children will learn how to read and

follow different maps and symbol trails.

l Children will learn what a compass is

and how it is used.

l Children will learn how to use written

instructions including looking for

landmarks.

NC / QCA links

NC – KS2 Geog – 2b, 2c

PE - 5f 11a, 11b, 11c

QCA – PE Unit 20 & 30

Outdoor, adventurous activities

Routefinding

Key

Stage 2


Working with YouOur team is always on hand to answer your questions about Widehorizons, what we can do and how it benefits your school.

I can honestly say one of the best class trips I have done in a long time. I was highly impressed with the centre and the children loved it!Helena Meagher, Millennium Primary School, April 2012

10 Widehorizons

Contact us to find out how we can work with [email protected] 020 8850 1581

Follow up

Evaluation

Outreach

Site Visit

ideas

The adventure doesn’t end there. Our Outreach Team can visit you again, running sessions and activities that will truly embed the learning from your visit, consolidate your class’s experiences and increasing the chances of your visit making a life-changing impact on your children and their learning.

After you and your group have been, we’ll ask what you thought of it so that we can continue to improve our work with primary schools.

In the time leading up to your visit, we can arrange for our Outreach Team to visit your class and make a start on your adventurous journey by running some activities that will lay the foundations for getting the most out of your visit.

Next, we’ll invite you to visit the site to meet the teaching staff and talk in-depth about the activities and the outcomes that you expect. At this stage you’ll have a

thorough understanding of the adventure ahead for you and your class, so you can pass that on to parents.

If you need some ideas or want to find out how best to integrate adventure into your schedule and curriculum, we’d be only too pleased to go through that with you.

Contact us today

If you would like our team to speak to parents about

adventure or arrange a visit for them to see where their child will be visiting, we’d be

only too happy to help.

Call us on 020 8850 1581 to get the ball rolling.


Our CentresWidehorizons operates six centres, each with their unique character but all providing high quality adventures for children in our unmistakable Widehorizons style. All of our centres cater for Primary Schools. We’ve perfected a programme of delivery and innovation over decades of working with Primary Schools and we are sure you won’t be disappointed.

Widehorizons Bryntysilio Centre (Llangollen, Wales)Residential centre located near Llangollen. Set in its own beautiful grounds, this centre provides a broad adventurous programme including activities such as mountaineering, canoeing and mountain biking.Capacity: 50

Widehorizons Ty’n y Berth Centre (Corris, Wales)Residential centre comprising of two sites located on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Courses at this centre include adventurous activities such as caving, climbing and gorge walking.Capacity: 40 and 30

Widehorizons Horton Kirby Centre (Kent)Day centre located in Kent surrounded by farmland, woods and villages and is close to the River Darent and a Country Park. All of these provide wonderful opportunities for learning and discovery.Capacity: 90

Widehorizons Margaret McMillan House (Wrotham, Kent)Residential centre located in rural Kent on the North Downs and conveniently near to London. Margaret McMillan has 26 acres which includes ropes courses, obstacle courses and initiative exercises.Capacity: 150

Widehorizons Townsend Centre (Swanage, Dorset)Residential centre located on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast in Swanage, Dorset. This centre provides a broad range of activities with a strong focus on using the local area as much as possible in its courses.Capacity: 115

Widehorizons Environment Centre (Eltham, London)Day centre located in south-east London. This centre is in a unique nine-acre wildlife site and is specifically designed for educational use. It contains many exciting outdoor education resources. Capacity: 90

Where our centres are

Your Adventure is an initiative set up by Widehorizons to support our aim of providing adventure to all children regardless of financial circumstance. Your Adventure is also the project through which we are developing Adventure Learning Partnerships (ALPs) – long term partnerships with schools where adventure is woven into the curriculum, making the most of the benefits of this form of learning.

To find out how Your Adventure can help your school with the costs of learning through adventure, give us a call or visit www.youradventure.org.uk

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Our partner schools receive a comprehensive, tailored plan to integrate adventure into their curricula, along with significant discounts on our services and access to funding opportunities.


Widehorizons 77 Bexley Road, London SE9 2PE

www.widehorizons.org.ukWidehorizons is a registered charity number 1105847Widehorizons is proud to be working in partnership with L&Q Housing Association.


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