Our Indoor Classroom

We are situated in George Hine House, a listed building, with attached playground. The classroom is a series of rooms which create an open-plan learning environment. The classes have separate areas for carpet time but then share an open-plan reception classroom and outdoor classroom. We are continually re-developing our space to meet the current learning needs of the children however we always have key areas such as a creative area for art and design, malleable area for materials such as playdough, a construction area, reading area, independent maths and literacy areas and much more. We also have two role play areas: a home corner and an additional area based on children’s interests or topical relevance. Our second role play has been: shops, doctors, a vets, a café, a baby clinic, an ice cream parlour, a castle, a dinosaur dig and much more!

In addition to our independent access maths and literacy areas we encourage maths and literacy throughout the classroom in all areas offering different opportunities for the children to develop and highlight their skills across the classroom and curriculum.

We also have a block of toilets specifically for use by the Reception children.

Our Outdoor Classroom

Outside we have our own playground, our ‘outdoor classroom’. All of the children usually spend at least a part of each day outdoors, it’s why we have welly boots as part of the Reception uniform! Like our indoor classroom this area is in constant development but offers the children the opportunity to be active, artistic, mathematical, messier and more on a bigger scale! This year we are also further developing our gardening skills: we have planted trees and are beginning to plant flowers and vegetables. We have also created a new texture kitchen which the children are really enjoying.

In addition to our outdoor classroom this year our school has seen the beginning of our wildlife garden at the front of the school. This area offers the children the chance to explore nature with trees and bushes, grassed areas, a planted bulb labyrinth, living willow tunnel, bird watching area, bug hotels, planting areas, log circle and more. We have even had a securely fenced area created where we have dug a pond. We look forward to incorporating this area into our learning throughout the year.