Many pupils dread Monday mornings, but reception class children at Our Lady & St Patrick's Catholic Primary School in Maryport, Cumbria, aren't among them. To them Monday is 'out and about' day and the best part of the week by far.
For the past two years, Foundation Stage teacher Carol Copley has built her entire curriculum planning around weekly trips in a community minibus. The school pays for the petrol; for the children, the day is absolutely free.
'The children in my class love coming to school, mostly because every Monday morning, rain, hail or shine, my reception class, a school governor, a childcare student, and I go out and about,' says Mrs Copley. 'And it's working.'
The school serves a deprived area, with high unemployment, large numbers of cash-strapped lone parents and children with very limited early experiences (many hadn't even visited a seaside village just six miles away).
'The children enter the Foundation Stage at well below average in most subjects, particularly in speaking and listening skills,' says Mrs Copley. 'But now, by the end of the reception year, they are in line with or above the national average in all subjects.' The Foundation Stage part of the school also recently received an 'outstanding' Ofsted report.
Mrs Copley draws inspiration from her commitment to hands-on, meaningful learning and her own experiences of bringing up her three children, all now in their twenties.
'I believe children become good learners when they have as many experiences as possible and that Knowledge and Understanding of the World can be the key to all learning in the early years. Our days out touch on the whole curriculum and provide the basis for all the children's learning once back in school.
'I also thought of my own children and the experiences that we gave them when they were young, even though we never had a lot of money. I scanned photographs of my own children, showed them to the parents and explained what I wanted to do.
'The parents are so pleased that their children have these opportunities and they don't have to pay for it. Everywhere we go is free of charge.'
A beach, her son-in-law Tim's farm, woods and garden/animal centres are regular haunts, so most of the themes within the curriculum are based on the seasons and nature. Trips are recorded on digital camera and the photographs are used to inspire activities in school. A day at the seaside might involve the children drawing numbers in the sand, floating logs and playing with feathers. Back in school, they look at the photographs and, says Mrs Copley, 'are soon keen to write about their experiences'.
Role-playing the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears in a local park can be followed by activities such as making and writing Goldilock's letter of apology to the bears for eating their breakfast.
'You don't have to do a lot to make a great day out, but it's often by chance that we end up having the best days,' says Mrs Copley, recalling when the children met a man using a metal detector on a beach. 'He took the time to explain what he was doing, let the children have a go and gave them "treasures" to take back to school. Then there was a man counting the species in the pond at a local garden centre and farm park. Again, he took an interest in the children and explained how to pond-dip.'
The arrival of Marra the bottlenose dolphin in Maryport marina last year kept the children captivated for months. 'Most Mondays started with a quick detour to the harbour to see Marra,' says Mrs Copley.
One-off events also prove rich sources for learning. While visiting the tall ships at Whitehaven with her own family, Mrs Copley persuaded the captain of the Matthew to allow the children to visit for free, when they dressed up as pirates and sang sea shanties (see picture).
People are becoming familiar with the group of children out and about in their blue sun hats or all-weather gear and are keen to engage with them, sparking ideas for new places to visit. 'Everyone comments on the children's manners and good behaviour. They have become a well-rounded, close-knit little team and quite confident about talking to people.'
The 16-seater minibus can accommodate this year's class of 13, but next year the number will be 16. What is clear is that Mrs Copley 'will never give up our days out'. She plans to split the class and offer half-day trips for all.
SOME OF THE TRIPS PLANNED FOR 2008
January
- Look for snowdrops on Tim's farm
- Role-play Goldilocks and the Three Bears in local woods
- Visit dairy farm
February
- Take Bobtail (class rabbit) to the vet to have his nails clipped and an injection. The vet is good with the children and lets them listen to Bob's heartbeat.
- Visit a bird hide
March
- Visit Maryport aquarium - school annual membership costs £60
- Feed orphan lambs
April
- Visit Forestry Commission Visitors' Centre to see hedgehogs and birds in their natural habitats and a red squirrel webcam
- Visit eagle owl at local farm
- Look for frog spawn and tadpoles
May
- Visit monkeys, buffalo and other exotic animals at Trotters and Friends Animal Farm
- Feed animals and play on go-karts at the Gincase (crafts barn and farm park)
- Visit butterfly house; make life-cycle display at school
June
- Float logs on Bassenthwaite Lake
- Go on Keswick launch. Cross lake to look for fir cones and to skim stones
July
- Walk along cliff path and stony beach at St Bees head
- Visit Beatrix Potter's museum
September
- Collect autumn fruits; make a blackberry and apple pie, and draw and print the fruits at school
- Annual hunt for Dingle Dangle Scarecrow; make bread at school
October
- Visit local baker; role-play bakery in school
- Choose pumpkins for Halloween lanterns
November
- Guided tour of local church
- See Remembrance Day poppies at memorial park
December
- Christmas extravaganza at Trotters farm
- Choose Christmas tree at Forestry Commission Visitors' Centre
- Visit Santa's grotto at the Gincase.
