Wallbrook Primary Academy recently celebrated the arrival of new outdoor learning resources for its Reception and nursery pupils, courtesy of Outdoor Classrooms Ltd. The innovative educational tools, now in use at the Academy, are already making a positive impact on the children’s learning experiences, providing exciting and engaging ways to develop key skills through outdoor play.
The new resources introduced at the Academy are already enhancing the learning experience for pupils. Among the highlights are tens frames for numeracy, part-whole blending boards for phonics, wooden owls for storytelling, and balance boards to support physical development. Children have been engaging with the tens frames to explore numbers, subitise, and solve simple addition and subtraction problems. The blending boards are proving invaluable in phonics lessons, helping children with blending and segmenting sounds. The wooden owls have quickly become a favourite for retelling stories, particularly Owl Babies, while the balance boards are supporting the development of gross motor skills during outdoor play.
Lorna McGregor, Principal at Wallbrook Primary Academy, said: “The new resources have truly transformed how our children engage with learning. We’ve seen a great deal of enthusiasm as they explore these tools, and it’s clear that the hands-on, interactive approach is boosting their confidence and supporting their progress. It’s exciting to watch them develop key skills while having fun – these resources are a fantastic addition to our learning environment.”
Outdoor Classrooms Ltd has been providing outdoor learning products for over 30 years, with a focus on creating safe, natural, and inspiring environments for children to learn through play. Their resources are made from naturally durable timber, sourced from wildlife-friendly woodland thinning projects in Yorkshire. This ensures a sustainable, toxin-free alternative to the plastics and pressure-treated wood commonly used in schools.
The new resources are already enhancing the learning environment at Wallbrook Primary Academy, where the focus on outdoor play and exploration continues to support the development of children’s academic and personal skills in a natural setting.
