A TIPI at Cledford Primary School has marked the start of a ‘Forest Schools’ project.


The tipi, which was funded by the schools Parents and Teachers Association, was built on the school grounds and will kick-start new outdoor activities and teaching.


The new project being introduced at the school will see a whole new approach to education for the pupils and the school is excited about the legacy that will come out of it.


Jane Booth, Cledford Primary School head teacher, said: “The project is very much based on outdoor learning and we will be planting around 200 small trees which will take up 30 years to grow into woodland.


“That is a great legacy for the pupils to be a part of and when they grow up and have children of their own and are hopefully still within the community they can take them to the woodlands they helped to make.”


The pupils will also be being taught by an outdoor learning expert who will be teaching them how to make use of resources found in the woodlands.


The new activities will offer opportunities for exploration and discovery, physical challenge and team-work, through shelter building, lighting fires and environmental art.


Jane added: “I think the outdoor learning is very important because it’s a great stimulus for the children and gets them excited about what they’re learning about.


“We do certain things outdoors such as orienteering and activities like that teach so many skills that are transferable to the key skills such as mathematics and English. “