Oakhurst Outdoor Fun
Helping children to discover the joy of outdoor play is our aim during lunchtimes through our Oakhurst Outdoor Fun initiative.
At Oakhurst Community Primary School, we believe in the power of outdoor play and exploration. We have created a safe and exciting environment where children can embrace the elements and have a blast in all weather conditions. Whether the sun is shining or raindrops are falling, there's lots of fun to be had in the great outdoors.
Play Zones
As part of our outdoor provision, we have a comprehensive map of the school site that has been broken down into zones. Within each of these zones, there is a designated activity that children can engage with. This means that children from Reception to year 6 can enjoy every area of our outside space. From scooters to bikes, badminton to balance-boards, den-building to reading and board games to chalk drawings - there's something that everyone can enjoy!
All-Weather Fun
Puddles are no longer the enemy; in fact, they're an open invitation to have some fun. Come rain or shine, the children will have a fun filled time. We ask for children to come prepared for any weather (and to pack a spare pair of clothes in their bags - just in case). So grab your wellies, waterproof coats & trousers and let the fun begin!
Safety First
Safety will always be our top priority. Our play zones are designed with safety in mind and our brilliant team ensure a secure environment for all children. We understand that rainy weather can be unpredictable, so our team keep a close eye on conditions to ensure the safety of our pupils.
We have risk-assessed all of our activities to ensure that children can be brave and challenge themselves, but not at the cost of their safety and wellbeing.
Benefits of outdoor play
Regular Physical Activity
Splashing in puddles, running around, and exploring nature are excellent ways for children to stay active and healthy. Our approach to outdoor play sits in harmony with our learning in Personal Social and Health Education (PSHE) aligned to the topic of 'Healthy Me'.
Fostering Creativity & Imagination
The outdoors is a canvas for imagination. Children can turn sticks into magic wands, rocks into treasure and puddles into a secret portal to another world! It is a place where children embrace the essence of awe and wonder.
Encouraging Social Interaction
Outdoor play encourages collaboration and teamwork as children explore, play and build together. It is not uncommon to see our older children playing with younger children and helping to scaffold their play. At Oakhurst, we embrace the benefits of these mixed-age interactions.
Building Resilience
Facing different weather conditions helps children develop resilience and adaptability. We are sure you'll agree that these are important life skills. What can sometimes start by feel a little uncomfortable often becomes something that we relish and turn to again and again.
Oakhurst Outdoor fun information evening recording
As part of the implementation of our Oakhurst Outdoor Fun initiative, we ran an event for the whole school community introducing the outline of the approach. Below, you will find video links to the session's content.
September 2023
The links to the videos referenced in the presentation are below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWz3-wjmbyY&feature=youtu.be