South West

 

Using the school grounds with SEN pupils
3 December 2008
University of Bristol Botanic Garden
This course will suit those working in special educational needs schools plus trainee teachers and learning support assistants. This course is designed to help identify strategies which enable children in multi-ability groups with diverse needs to use the medium of horticulture as a meaningful activity in the school curriculum. During the day participants will explore the benefits of horticulture, design considerations, and discuss tips and techniques; with an opportunity to get ‘hands-on’ in a practical session. It is aimed at those who are new to using horticulture in this environment or have limited experience to develop this subject successfully. The day will be predominantly aimed at primary school children with SEN, however, if your children or young people have SLD, you may find the day of interest.

 

Spring Term

Growing fruit and vegetables within the school year
 27 January 2009
 RHS Garden Rosemoor
Frustrated by the short growing season in your school garden? Traditionally, the long summer holidays enabled children to help with the harvest, but what happens to the harvest in the school vegetable patch? This day explores which fruit and veg can be grown within the constraints of the academic year as well as strategies to lengthen the growing season. Sowing techniques, rotation planting, composting and ‘green manures’ will also be discussed. Finally a few tips on fun ways the children can sample the fruits of their labour!

 

How Environmentally Friendly is your School Garden
5 February 2009
RHS Garden Rosemoor
The day looks at sustainability within the schools grounds by introducing a range of techniques and projects. Best practice regarding water conservation; composting and mulches, using recycled materials are just some of the sustainable garden practices explored for every area of your garden and grounds. Gardening with the environment in mind presents opportunity and inspiration rather than compromise and restraint. Involving the children in sustainable gardening projects not only produces teaching resources but also teaches environmental responsibility - the key to ‘being green’.

 

Gardening by numbers
6 February 2009
Westonbirt The National Arboretum
Creative ideas for exciting and stimulating activities promoting the learning of Mathematics in a garden or outdoor space. Through a range of activities we will investigate calculations, pattern and shape, estimating and measuring and graphical representation.

 

Growing fruit and vegetables in a school garden
6 March 2009
Hartpury College Hartpury House
This course delivers a wide range of ideas for developing communication skills in a garden environment. Using a variety of activities, we shall look at aspects of speaking and writing for different purposes and audiences. Teachers will be encouraged to use the garden environment to stimulate children to exchange ideas and information as well as to express individual responses to the outdoor environment.

 

Talk about gardening – and write a bit too!
20 March 2009
Westonbirt The National Arboretum
This course delivers a wide range of ideas for developing communication skills in a garden environment. Using a variety of activities, we shall look at aspects of speaking and writing for different purposes and audiences. Teachers will be encouraged to use the garden environment to stimulate children to exchange ideas and information as well as to express individual responses to the outdoor environment.

 

Summer Term

Talk about gardening – and write a bit too!
15 May 2009
Hartpury College Hartpury House
This course delivers a wide range of ideas for developing communication skills in a garden environment. Using a variety of activities, we shall look at aspects of speaking and writing for different purposes and audiences. Teachers will be encouraged to use the garden environment to stimulate children to exchange ideas and information as well as to express individual responses to the outdoor environment.

 

Wildlife in your school garden
2 July 2009
RHS Garden Rosemoor
Gardens are very significant indeed for the protection of biodiversity in the UK and enable people to appreciate close contact with wildlife. The entire school grounds can be a refuge for wildlife with a few simple management techniques. The day explores practical ways in which birds, beasts and bugs can be encouraged, many for the benefit of your garden areas. You will be shown how to maximise the potential of the grounds as an environmental learning resource as well as fun activities to utilize it. Why stop at a garden when the school could have its own nature reserve?

 
 
 

Resources