The Learning Environment
We believe a well organised and stimulating environment has a direct impact on the quality of teaching and learning, reflects our high expectations and standards and enables pupils to develop independence in their learning.
Ensuring that our Vision and Values are clear and visible:
- We want our learning environment to reflect our values, as well as our enquiry based curriculum.
- These values and principles should be explicit throughout the school.
- The learning environment serves as a constant reminder to every one of the shared beliefs and underpinning of our school.
The Classroom Environment:
Learning Walls
We have a ‘learning wall’ approach to display within classrooms. Learning walls should show a range of examples of children’s work using a range of media.
Displays should ‘grow’ as the learning progresses; with examples of learning going on display as it happens.
A learning wall should include learning prompts linked to key skill approaches. These prompts should be used to support teaching and learning, encouraging children to engage with their environment and the resources/prompts available to them.
Reading Area
All classrooms should include an inviting book space. Soft furnishings, well displayed books and props all add to the appeal and encourage children to spend time reading, engaging with books and stories.
An Enabling Environment
All resources should be easily accessible, inviting and clearly labelled.
The following should be displayed as a minimum:
- Themed display
- Learning wall
- Christian Values, including class Cross
- ‘Be the best we can be’
The School Environment
Research suggests that we benefit greatly from stronger connections between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Corridor Displays:
Displays in corridors and public spaces will celebrate the polished products of different school themes and areas of School and Trust development. These will be referred to as, ‘Widcombe Wonder Walls’
Learners’ work should be displayed in an eye-catching manner and the title of the theme should be clear.
Wonder Walls should be changed and updated on a theme basis, and celebrate the previous theme for the particular year group.