LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
Outdoor excellence
The Learning Outside the Classroom national
excellence awards recognise the best in outdoor learning activities.
Amy Nathan reports from
Sandhill View School, which won an award in 2009 for its pioneering work
J
OAN NIX, curriculum area manager at Sandhill View School in Sunderland, firmly believes that learning outside the classroom (LOtC) is at the centre of the school’s curriculum. Nestled in the heart of its community, with a health centre, public library and youth
centre on-site, this 11 to 16 comprehensive school with performance arts status never consciously decided to put LOtC into action. Yet, over the years it has become firmly embedded in school practice. Staff are given the freedom to be creative, allowing
LOtC to evolve naturally across the whole school. At Sandhill, LOtC involves all abilities and age ranges to the mutual benefit of pupils, staff and the community. As winner of the National LOtC Awards for
Excellence and Innovation in 2009, Sandhill can boast a curriculum with varied LOtC activities that motivate and engage its pupils.
LotC is known to encourage personal, social and
emotional development while providing a platform for practical and memorable learning experiences. Many teachers believe that it is a useful tool that helps students to make the connection between theory and reality while fostering better teacher-pupil relationships. Ms Nix is one of those teachers who embraces
this type of learning. She explained: “The impact on both pupils and staff is marked. It is a pleasure to see pupils engage so readily in their subjects when creative planning allows learning outside of the classroom to be built into the lesson. Through this, our students gain opportunities to see the world and their learning from a different angle, and we see their confidence grow as a result.” Pupils at the school have the opportunity to extend
their learning through activities varying from gardening on the school grounds to team-building at outdoor activity centres and cultural visits to France and Washington DC. The school recognises the benefit of using its locality to develop pupils’ understanding of their own community. Visits to local heritage sites such as Beamish Open
Air Museum and Warkworth Castle inNorthumberland and partnership working with the local universities create a new dimension to lessons that combine history and geography with art and drama. “After our visits, we find that the students bring their
experiences back to the classroom making our lessons richer and more vibrant,” Ms Nix added. Sandhill also runs whole-school LOtC activities.
Each year, creativity week stages the “Carnival de Sandhill View”. During the week, the timetable is collapsed and every pupil enjoys learning that encompasses elements of citizenship, art and culture and the world of enterprise and money management. The whole event culminates in a performance for governors and parents. Despite recent fears that LOtC has suffered due to
perceived risks of litigation, financial constraints, and a lack of confidence among NQTs, schools like Sandhill continue to make every effort overcome challenges and integrate LOtC into the curriculum. With the launch of the LOtC Manifesto in 2006, the
drive to increase opportunities for all young people is taking a positive turn. The Department for Children,
Increase your school’s level of funding
Fundraising for Schools is a monthly magazine, containing essential information on all the available sources of extra school funding from which YOUR school could benefi t.
A subscription to Fundraising for Schools will enable you to:
• Find out all the awards and grants that are available, and the criteria for application;
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• Learn from the successes and failures of other schools that have previously applied for funding;
• Keep up-to-date with the latest fundraising stories; and • Increase the level of funding for your school.
Awards for Excellence and Innovation 2010
The LOtC Awards for Excellence and Innovation 2010 will launch this month. The awards, run by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, recognise the commitment of educational establishments to providing valuable and positive learning experiences for young people aged up to 19 beyond the classroom. For the third year running, the awards will
be seeking nominations for establishments which are creating novel, innovative and inspirational approaches to LOtC, whether it is in the school grounds, on visits to museums, art galleries or farms, through adventurous activities or on cultural exchanges abroad. In December 2009, Sandhill won the national prize for its determination to give all students LOtC experiences through regular educational visits and innovative lessons which make use of the school grounds and locality. For details, email
enquiries@lotc.org.uk
Schools and Families is encouraging more LOtC
through its guidance, Health and Safety for Learners
Outside the Classroom, which aims to make the process of writing risk assessments less onerous. Last year saw the establishment of an independent
body with national remit to promote and champion LOtC. The Council for LearningOutside the Classroom is now the leading voice for LOtC, influencing policy and practice and managing the new LOtC Quality Badge Scheme. The Quality Badge is a nationally recognised
benchmark awarded to LOtC providers that have met six quality indicators and established a good balance between learning and risk management. The LOtC Quality Badge makes it easier for teachers to organise
Out and about: A Sandhill student during one of the school’s outdoor activities
LOtC visits. There is a wealth of information, research, case studies, guidance and resources available to help plan, deliver and evaluate LOtC through the Out and About guidance online.
SecEd
• Amy Nathan is project development manager with the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom.
Further information
To access the Out and About guidance and for more information, visit
www.lotc.org.uk
FOR BETTER CHILD HEALTH
SCHOOL NURSES
MORE
A properly resourced school nursing service is required to help schools meet the government’s health and wellbeing objectives.
Research published in the British Journal
of School Nursing (BJSN) shows that
more school nurses are needed to meet these objectives and ensure school children receive the health care and support they deserve. Therefore
TO SUBSCRIBE
visit
www.practicalfunding.co.uk
Fundraising for Schools
– your essential practical guide to raising money!
SecEd • May 6 2010
Call FREEPHONE 0800 137201
or
the BJSN has launched a campaign to increase the number of school nurses.
For more information on the campaign visit
http://moreschoolnurses.co.uk
Support the campaign or send us your views at:
bjsn@markallengroup.com
SCHOOL NURSES FOR BETTER CHILD HEALTH
MORE
7
awards and grants
PRIMARY/SECONDARY
Kelloggs Active Living Fund
The Kelloggs Active Living Fund will give small grants to projects and activities that directly lead to people taking part in sustained physical activity. The aim of the fund is to help remove the barriers which stop people being active.
Award criteria
The Kelloggs Active Living Fund is keen to fund activities that enable adults and children to exercise together. The fund is open to applications from charities and other voluntary and community organisations. Schools can apply but the fund will only consider contributing towards extra-curricular activities that promote sustained physical activities.
Kelloggs will make a grant of up to £1,000, but will only fund activities or projects where the grant makes a signifi cant impact. For example, Kelloggs would consider a grant of £1,000 for a £2,000 project, but would not consider a grant of £1,000 for a £10,000 project.
Applications will be judged against two key criteria: Project type and benefi ciaries.
You are more likely to receive funding if your project meets the top priority in both criteria. These are, (a) innovative ways of getting non-active individuals active, and (b) family units, children and adults, undertaking physical activity together.
Three good examples of high priority applications are:
A project that establishes exercise classes where mums and kids exercise together.
A walking project designed for adults and families.
A project which enables adults and children to learn to swim together.
The Active Living Fund will not make a grant:
To individual athletes, sportsmen and women.
For costs associated with salaries or posts.
To profi t-making organisations. Towards transport costs, as all projects should be accessible to ensure sustainability.
PRIMARY/SECONDARY
The BBC Wildlife Fund
The BBC Wildlife Fund is a grant-giving charity set up in May 2007 to distribute money raised by donations to help support projects protecting the world’s endangered wildlife.
Award criteria
The remit of the BBC Wildlife Fund is: To support projects that are working to protect endangered wildlife and biodiversity – animals, plants and the wild places they need.
To help protect and improve the natural habitats that wildlife and humans share.
Once the total amount raised from appeals in summer 2007 is known, the fund will work with a wide range of
wildlife charities to assess how and where the money can make the most difference.
The fund will welcome grant applications from groups working internationally and in the UK. However, it can not do so until the total amount raised during the Saving Planet Earth season is known.
BBC Wildlife fund
Deadline
Likely to be sometime in December 2007
Amount of award
As yet unknown
Contact details
BBC Wildlife Fund PO Box 60905 London W12 7UU
web:
www.bbc.co.uk/savingplanetearth/ aboutus/
index.shtml
Fundraising for Schools September 2007 7
To applications where the request does not directly support the activity being undertaken, for example the fund will consider a request for equipment, but not for maintenance on a building being used.
To retrospective applications, where the activity has either taken place or has commenced at the time an application is considered by the Kelloggs panel.
Kelloggs Active Living Fund
Deadline
Ongoing
Amount of award
Up to £1,000
Contact details
email:
darren@communityfoundation.co.uk web:
www.kelloggs.co.uk/company/ corporateresponsibility/activelivingfund
The Ford Britain Trust supports local projects based near its main manufacturing plants, Andrew M
The Ford Britain Trust was created by Trust Deed on 1 April 1975 for the advancement of education and other charitable purposes benefi cial to the community.
In making donations, the trustees pay particular attention to those organisations (including schools) that are located in and operating in areas where the Ford Motor Company Ltd has its present activities and a long standing association with local communities in the UK. Particular consideration is also given to organisations and projects that support the principles embodied in the company’s policies on diversity.
The trust makes donations to undertakings concerned with the advancement of education and other charitable purposes. Preference is given to registered charities (or similar) located and working in areas in close proximity to the company’s locations in the UK. These are Essex (East London), South Wales, Southampton, Daventry and Leamington Spa (although this latter plant is closing).
Special attention is given to projects concerned with education, environment, children, the disabled, youth activities, and projects that will provide clear benefi ts to local communities. Applications coming from, or relating to, projects based outside these geographical areas are generally not considered.
National charities are assisted rarely, and then only when the purpose of their application has specifi c benefi t to communities located in close proximity to Ford locations. An example of one support that could also be relevant to schools is contained in the sidebox.
Applications for sponsorship, individuals, research, overseas projects, travel, religious or political projects are not eligible.
Grants made by the trust are usually: One-off donations for a specifi c capital project.
Funding for part of a project, typically items of furniture and equipment.
Applications are rarely considered for:
Core funding and / or salaries. Revenue expenses. Major building projects.
Grants usually range between £100 and £5,000. Applications for funding for new Ford vehicles are considered when two- thirds of the purchase price is available from other sources. Any subsequent grant is unlikely to exceed £2,000, but in the case of registered charities, it may also be possible to arrange a reduction from the recommended retail price. Grants are not available for the purchase of second-hand vehicles.
The trustees meet in June and November each year. Applications are considered in order of receipt and therefore it often takes several months, for an application to be processed. Although each application is considered carefully, the number of applications the trust receives far outstrip its resources and, because of this, the number of applicants that it is able to h limited. The decision of the trustees is
The following guidelines should be considered when making an appli to the trust:
Applications should be by let is no application form) to th below, setting forth the pur project; whom it is intende and how; why the project and necessary (how were done before?); how it is the project will be carri it will start and fi nish; of the project; how mu raised so far towards
the sources o and expecte activities by project; an are applyi
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Fundraising
for Schools
December 2007 Issue 84
Your practical guide to raising money
On the agenda:
Creating chances
arning about the arts is part of a good education. We want all children to e the chance to develop their creativity,’ said culture secretary James Purnell.
urse there is absolutely nothing l in this. It is well-known that and the arts are important for ping social skills, self-confi dence, y, empathy, imagination... and the d go on ad infi nitum.
ignifi cant is the huge cash Government has committed to cation (page 2). This funding local authorities to provide music tuition. It will also be
s brand new instruments, – a programme led by Youth ned to get primary-aged ing regularly.
he largest sum of money nt has put towards music atives. It is a positive ers are listening to t the arts are fi rmly at
ssue
etition
s
g s
the top of the educational agenda, where they belong.
Carrying on with this theme, pages 4, 6 and 7 contain information on funding for arts education. On pages 10 and 11, Shari Baker looks at some ways schools can access quality provision from creative industries. She examines what support there is – in terms of both funding and training – to help schools increase creativity within their curriculum.
In keeping with this, Fundraising for Schools is offering readers the chance to win a Literacy Software pack, designed to develop creativity and encourage story- telling skills. Turn to page 3 for more details...
2
3 4 5
6-9
10-11 12-13
14-15 16
Also in this issue...
In the latest instalment of his series on Gift Aid, Barry Gower takes a detailed look at how it can be gained successfully from charity auctions (pages 14-15). He fl ags up some of the pitfalls to be avoided and considers a few of the best items to put up for sale.
And finally...
As the winter term gradually draws to a close, many schools will be holding Christmas fairs. If your school has a fundraising event planned, please write and tell us about it: amy.g@
markallengroup.com. Therewill b for themost inte id
All about
Fundraising for Schools
Fundraising for Schools is
a monthly (11 issues per year) newsletter which keeps the school fundraiser up-to-date with possible extra sources for funding. A subscription will save hours of research at the library and on the phone.
Subscription details: One year £49.50. Two years £89.00. Please complete and return the subscription formon page 16
or call freephone 0800 137 201 and
ask for the subscriptions department.
Fundraising for Schools is the
leading source of information on grants. It will help you apply for money to the appropriate places at the appropriate times. You can be sure that the content will be: Relevant to schools. Useful for schools. Benefi cial to schools.
Fundraising for Schools is written
for the head or deputy with delegated responsibility for fundraising, school development offi cers and interested chairs of governors and PTAs.
Whether your school is seeking funding for a specifi c project or just raising funds to aid its development then Fundraising for Schools is for you.
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