Outdoor Learning Developments at Wollescote Primary
Wollescote Primary School in Stourbridge wanted to develop a brand new Forest School site to provide a range of provision for outdoor learning that linked to their old Forest School site.
Play to Measure created a fortress themed Forest School provision complete with castle playhouse, courtyard seating, outdoor classroom, agility structures and a large decked fortress walkway.
Welcome to Fort Wollescote!
The Castle Playhouse
This open structure features an upper viewing platform with a den beneath to promote role play activities and encourage learners to use their imagination.
Agility Structures
A slalom walkway and scramble net provide a playful but challenging route to the upper forest school site while helping children develop balance, agility and coordination. A climbing wall built onto the fortress walkway walls helps children build strength, endurance and flexibility.
Courtyard Seating
The ‘In the round’ courtyard seating complete with story teller’s throne has created a magical space for children to engage in story time outside of the traditional classroom.
The Outdoor Classroom
Taking learning outdoors can enhance education and improve mental health. With this in mind, an outdoor classroom was built complete with a large teaching room and a large storeroom with welly racks and coat rails. 2 sets of double doors enable the spaces to be opened up when the weather is fine or closed to keep out the winter chill aided by Perspex windows and insulated walls.
The classroom also has a lean-to woodwork area complete with work bench and shelving.
The Decked Fortress Walkway
A wheelchair accessible ramp and walkway runs from the main school, surrounds the new forest school site and leads up to the old forest school site. It includes carved cladding and access to the treetop viewing platform on top of the castle.
Renovation of an Old Outdoor Classroom
The school also commissioned Play to Measure to renovate an old cumbling outdoor classroom. This involved stripping it back to its original framework and installing composite cladding and a new box profile steel roof.
“Play to measure offered a creative solution to our requirements for Forest School at Wollescote Primary. The team worked tirelessly to create a beautiful yet practical environment in our new forest school site and developed playful links to our old forest school site. Through regular communication and creative thinking, the space has developed organically into a fantastic child focused area for outdoor learning. I would highly recommend them.”
