Creating Stimulating Outdoor Spaces
Aim
Enquiry School Lipson Vale Primary, in Plymouth, wanted to create outdoor learning spaces that were educational, fun, artistic and stimulating, building on the ideas that staff and pupils had already come up with.
Utilising the skills of a bank of experts the School hoped to be able to design, plan and create outdoor ‘zones’ which increased the use of technology outdoors; encouraged the interaction between infants and juniors; mixed education, play, exhibition and quiet areas; and, linked with indoor spaces in the school.
Lipson Vale hoped to involve pupils, staff, governors and parents in the process and in doing so expand upon the implementation of their creative curriculum.
Process
Working with a creative practitioner, the pupils have considered the outdoor zones, working up mini-projects that explore the use of outdoor space, from sustainability to entertainment. The pupils and staff then have agreed the zones to develop and chosen practitioners to support the creation of the zones; prioritising the development of the areas.
Lipson Vale’s staff, governors and parents have been involved in the planning and design processes while young people have been kept at the heart of the development and creation process, including conceiving, building and designing dens, an activity which saw all aspects of the school demographic working together.
Impact
Pupils' skills in decision making and putting ideas into practice have been enhanced throughout the project along with social skills and self esteem. As a result of the den building activity, young people improved their teamwork skills and moreover, suggested they could work with younger children to show them how to build dens.
Consequently, it has been agreed that there will be further opportunities for co-creation across the school demographic as the planning and constructing of the zones continues.
Lipson Vale’s outdoor space development has been featured in Future Lab’s Vision magazine.
