Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning is an important part of the curriculum at Treloar’s and we are lucky to have some amazing facilities around our campus. Sited on the edge of Holybourne with views towards rolling hills and open countryside, we try to make the most of every opportunity outdoors. To explore the campus facilities take a virtual tour.
Primary Playground
This bright, vibrant and inclusive area provides our younger students with access to an outdoor play area. It has been specially designed to be wheelchair friendly. It helps our students to develop independence skills, imagination and the opportunity to socialise and play with their friends. There are sensory areas, raised beds for growing plants, sand and water play and learning areas. It has an accessible roundabout and a large nest swing which is especially important for our students to develop their vestibular senses. The area is also widely used to celebrate birthdays as well as festivals from around the world. You can read more about the opening of the playground here.
Willow Way
Willow Way comprises of a willow arched walk way incorporating a Tepee mid-way along as a space where students can relax, listen to nature and stories. There is small outdoor shelter which is used as a classroom for small groups of students, a pond and a bug hotel. This whole area is currently used by classes across the School and College. Willow Way is creatively used to deliver literacy, numeracy, science and design technology. Activities include measuring the depth of the pond, collecting frog spawn, writing songs and stories about the pond, learning about the different animals, making charts of what students can see, making food trays for animals, making their own dipping tools, learning about the life cycle of plants and animals.
Sensory Garden
This engaging sensory space comprises of a forest library, elevated pond area, water features, an adapted wooded swing, bird feeders & bird watching information boards, permanent floor based snakes and ladders, a picnic area and a multi-sensory archway. This sensory space is used as a learning area by class and therapy groups across the School and College. It is also used for fun and relaxation activities linked to their curriculum outcomes, this could include treasure hunts, working with nature, driving skills, team working, literacy and numeracy.
Outdoor Learning Centre
We have a strong tradition of horticultural activities at Treloar’s which have been supported over many years by our Patron Alan Titchmarsh who has helped inspire a love of all things outdoors with our students. We previously had a horticulture facility which had been much loved and well used over the years; this has now been redesigned and once again has become a vibrant and engaging area for all of our students. The new design consists of a greenhouse, animal area, outdoor classroom, sensory garden and a wonderful fire pit. This enables a diverse and stimulating education programme and exceptional learning opportunities for all of our students.
The centre is designed to motivate learning, teach life skills, encourage students to spend more time outdoors to benefit their health and well-being and promote a happier and healthier outlook on life. Learning opportunities will be focused around enterprise activities, independence, communication, team working, small animal care, sensory exploration, science activities and areas for socialising. There will be both a therapeutic and educational aspect to the centre and a focus on opportunities for real-life work experience through enterprise activities such as gardening, growing, selling produce, animal care and general upkeep.
Our fundraising team are appealing for support for phase 2 of this exciting project.