As a school we are very fortunate to have an expanse of outdoor areas and our focus, since September 2018, has been to develop these areas into outdoor learning spaces and build Wild Tribe into our values driven curriculum.
What is Wild Tribe?
Wild Tribe has been based on the principles of Forest schools and is about young people building self- esteem and independence through exploring and experiencing the natural world. The main difference between Forest Schools and Wild Tribe is that Wild Tribe has been developed by teachers and practitioners working alongside each other to ensure that units of exploration have been developed, which meet the needs of all learners and meets the requirements of the new national curriculum covering a range of curriculum areas. Each Wild tribe unit of exploration is tailored to meet the needs of individuals within that group and is continuously developed as the young people grow in confidence, skills and understanding as a result of their exploration.
The ethos of outdoor learning allows learners the time and space to develop skills, interests and understanding through practical, hands-on experiences. It also allows practitioners to step back and observe the young people in order to then encourage and inspire individuals to achieve through careful scaffolding and facilitating.
Sessions are planned around the individual’s and group’s needs, and built upon each week. They are often closely linked to the schools overall theme of learning for the term and are planned to encompass and build upon the school vision and values. Often sessions include reference to respecting God's world, forgiving and supporting those who may not, using friendship to work together to create positive outcomes for pupils, the community and the world and providing opportunities for children to have different experiences that require courage and lead to high aspirations for all.
All Wild Tribe Practitioners are qualified through nationally recognised and accredited training, therefore ensuring Wild Tribe is a high quality learning experience.
The earlier sessions will concentrate on safety; establishing boundaries and routines. As the pupils develop in confidence and familiarity with the environment the sessions focus on the development and consolidation of skills and understanding, and link further with national curriculum areas. The sites are safe; activities are planned and delivered in line with Health and Safety policies. Sessions are thoroughly risk assessed and managed appropriately by trained practitioners