The S.O.L.D. Beyond the Classroom Conference 2021
After so many delays, it was an absolute joy to welcome back so many delegates to High Ashurst for our annual conference.
What a day it was! The sun shone, the food was delicious and everyone had a great time. By the end of the day all the delegates were buzzing with new ideas to take back to their schools to help with their outdoor learning.
"Our Beyond the Classroom Conference brought together the most amazing group of passionate and enthusiastic teachers who want to embrace outdoor learning in their schools every single day. They brought with them a very positive energy and desire to learn and develop for the benefit of the children they teach and I am truly in awe of what we are achieving in relation to the 'outdoor learning movement' we are seeing in schools at the moment." Louise Edwards, SOLD manager.
We want to say a huge thank you to our keynote speakers and amazing workshop deliverers -
- Helen Porter (virtually!) - Embedding an outdoor learning curriculum
- Sue Waite - Using outdoor learning for happy healthy schools
- Deb Lambert - Evaluating and Assessing outdoor learning
- Bees please me by Viv Rowden, The Garden Classroom
- The power of active problem solving challenges by Tom Newton, SOLD
- Poets in the Park by Siri O'Neal, The Garden Classroom
- Nature's moods in art by Andy White, SOLD
- Sticks and Stones - taking literacy outside by Emma Rothwell, Surrey Wildlife Trust
- Mini-beasts and microscopes by Louise Shorthose, Surrey Wildlife Trust
- School Gardening: The 'BigSoup Share' project by Zephaniah Lindo, RHS
- Playtime revolution by Mary Jackson, PSHE
- Monitoring physical activity in outdoor learning lessons for health and well-being by Sue Waite
- Getting more out of your school ground for connecting to nature by Lizzie Foster
- Grubby Geometry by Chris Tyson, SOLD
- LOtC Mark - how to develop and gain recognition for your outdoor learning curriculum - Anne Hunt, LOtC
- Engaging children in mapping school grounds for Geography by Simon Waller, FSC
- How to use creative reviewing and reflection in outdoor learning - Ben Rayner, SOLD
- Teaching Design Tech and Music outdoors - Deb Lambert
Don't forget that we can also offer these to you -
- Free consultation to help you use your outdoor space as effectively as possible for Outdoor Learning
- CPD training to confidently and safely deliver your outdoor curriculum at school including Outdoor Learning Card training. Find out more here
- Inset Training or twilight session for all your teaching staff in curriculum linked outdoor learning programmes
- Bespoke, curriculum linked day visits for your children to our outdoor learning centres
- Curriculum linked residential visits at all three of our centres in Mickleham, Dorking, Guildford and Ham near Richmond
- We can come to your school with our Outreach Team and deliver a bespoke, curriculum linked outdoor programme
If you're not already part of our wonderful community here are the ways to join!
- Sign up for the SOLD 'Beyond the Classroom' newsletter here sent out twice a term with lots of free ideas, resources, news and updates
- Join the SOLD Beyond the Classroom Community Facebook Group here – lots of sharing of excellent ideas and experiences of members' outdoor learning curriculum lessons.
- Take part in Beyond the Classroom Hub Meetings each term across Surrey – perfect to network with other Outdoor Learning Leads from local schools, share ideas and good practices, guest speakers, sharing of lesson plans and much more. To sign up, please email louise.edwards@surreycc.gov.uk
- Finally, follow us on social media at @SOLDoutdoors – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and please do post any videos or photos that you have taken today.
We're so looking forward to continuing to support you all, your schools and your children on an exciting and fruitful outdoor learning journey, please do get in touch with Louise Edwards – louise.edwards@surreycc.gov.uk or 07968 891651 for any further questions or requests for help.
Best wishes, until next time!
The S.O.L.D. team
