Our Lady of Lourdes Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic primary schoolCatholic primary school

Designing a sensory gardenDesigning a sensory garden

The initial idea.The initial idea.

�� We wanted to develop our creative We wanted to develop our creative curriculum.curriculum.

�� We thought about areas that the We thought about areas that the School should like to further develop.School should like to further develop.

�� We sought ideas from all staff We sought ideas from all staff membersmembers

�� We came up with the idea of a sensory We came up with the idea of a sensory gardengarden

“I like how it’s a quiet place. It’s calm, you can work together and work things out, like if you had a problem you could go there to talk” Year 6 pupil.

Our Sensory gardenOur Sensory garden

�� Our children to design the garden Our children to design the garden ––competitioncompetition

�� They had ownershipThey had ownership

�� It could help develop their learning outdoorsIt could help develop their learning outdoors

�� Be an extension to the classroomBe an extension to the classroom

�� Enhance writing and thinking skillsEnhance writing and thinking skills

�� Would support and develop the creative Would support and develop the creative curriculum, this project would run along side.curriculum, this project would run along side.

“I like wheeling the wheelbarrow and I like raking” Year 1 pupil, aged 5 and 1/2

“I like digging and planting. It’s fun because you get all muddy” Year 3 pupil,aged 8.

The sensory gardenThe sensory garden

�� An ongoing project, continue to growAn ongoing project, continue to grow�� Chance to further develop community Chance to further develop community

cohesioncohesion�� Help give children a purpose for writingHelp give children a purpose for writing�� Help children develop other key skillsHelp children develop other key skills�� Support our Learning outside the classroomSupport our Learning outside the classroom�� The creativity bid would support our creative The creativity bid would support our creative

curriculum.curriculum.

Brilliant bodies Brilliant bodies –– our objectivesour objectives

The 1st topic was ‘Brilliant bodies’

Whole school approach

Every class developed the sensory garden.

Every class had a visit and visitor

We discussed units that could further develop our creative curriculum

Whole school involvementWhole school involvement

�� Feedback sought from all staff, parents and Feedback sought from all staff, parents and children with regard to the 1children with regard to the 1stst project so we project so we could monitor impact.could monitor impact.

�� Presentation given to governors to keep them Presentation given to governors to keep them informed and include them.informed and include them.

�� 94% of parents stated child had enjoyed 94% of parents stated child had enjoyed topictopic

�� 88% staff noticed children were more 88% staff noticed children were more enthusiasticenthusiastic

�� 94% of children said having visitors in school 94% of children said having visitors in school helped make their learning better.helped make their learning better.

What did we learn What did we learn from this?from this?

�� Very positive Very positive

�� Look towards minimum entitlementsLook towards minimum entitlements

�� Inclusion of parents Inclusion of parents –– now have creative now have creative curriculum newsletter and curriculum newsletter and ‘‘eventsevents’’

�� Inclusion of governors Inclusion of governors ––newsletters and newsletters and sharing of talentssharing of talents

�� Developing and impact on writing Developing and impact on writing ––ongoing.ongoing.

�� Every topic has a parents Every topic has a parents ‘‘eventevent’’

Difficulties!Difficulties!

�� Weather!Weather!

�� Length of unitsLength of units

�� ResourcesResources

�� Other school pressures/ time constraintsOther school pressures/ time constraints

�� FinancesFinances

�� enthusiasmenthusiasm

Next stepsNext steps

�� Team planning. Team planning.

�� Children questionnaire prior to topics Children questionnaire prior to topics

––shape their own learning.shape their own learning.

�� Need to broaden the unitsNeed to broaden the units

�� Continue to add to and develop our sensory Continue to add to and develop our sensory gardengarden

�� Need to ensure in line with new curriculumNeed to ensure in line with new curriculum

�� Keep up the good work!Keep up the good work!

““She has been begging me to come all week and I told her how She has been begging me to come all week and I told her how busy I was, Ibusy I was, I’’ve really enjoyed myself though, I donve really enjoyed myself though, I don’’t want to t want to

leave or go to work now!leave or go to work now!””