Axe Estuary Wetlands launches new Rivers education programme for schools

East Devon District Council (EDDC) is about to launch a new teaching and learning pack for schools, which focuses on the River Axe.

EDDC Education Ranger Meg Knowles and Primary Curriculum Advisor David Weatherly are leading a teacher training day on the Axe Estuary Wetlands on Monday 15 April.

The government has made it clear that the new slimmed-down national curriculum will only identify ‘’the essentials of human knowledge and understanding’’, providing more professional space for schools to design their own (broad and balanced) curriculum using their local environment.

In addition to this, the government's new teacher standards require teachers to demonstrate they can plan out-of-class activities to "consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired".

Co-authored by Meg Knowles and David Weatherly, this new and exciting teaching pack aims to support the continued professional development of primary school teachers by providing them with an engaging and challenging cross-curricular resource for 7–11 year old pupils.

It supports pupils’ learning through key question-led enquiries, to investigate relevant key features and issues along the River Axe whilst making comparisons at a global level. The pack provides background information, detailed planning and a wide variety of learning and teaching resources so that teachers can be fully confident in managing learning both in and outside of the classroom.

The Axe Estuary Wetlands that lie to the west of the river Axe between Seaton and Colyford provide a tremendous outdoor learning space where, as part of the new education programme, children can take part in engaging practical fieldwork activities to extend and consolidate their classroom-based learning on the topic of rivers.

Managed by East Devon District Council, the Wetland reserves are a rich mosaic of habitats that are a haven for wildlife. With five bird hides, three pond dipping platforms, a purpose-built classroom and pathways that travel through beautiful meadows and alongside small streams, the Wetlands are an exciting and safe wild learning space.

Built on stilts over a reed bed, the Wetlands Classroom offers a fabulous all-weather facility for visiting school groups and an ideal base from which to explore the Wetlands.

Children experience numerous benefits from time spent learning outside of the classroom, such as the opportunity to take risks, learn new physical skills, improve self-confidence and develop better relationships with teachers. Evidence also suggests that there may be a positive impact on attainment.

The learning and teaching activities have been carefully designed to support schools to improve literacy, numeracy and science whilst investigating crucial issues such as environmental sustainability and climate change.

David Weatherly explained: “Primary schools will welcome this resource because it is relevant and engaging, learning outside the classroom is integral to the enquiries and it has been written to ensure challenging progression through and across the National Curriculum”.

The teacher training day will be held on the Axe Estuary Wetlands on Monday 15 April. Teachers interested in booking a place should contact the East Devon District Council Countryside team on (01395) 517557 or email: countryside@eastdevon.gov.uk