Nature Friendly Schools

At Burlington Junior School, we believe that learning outdoors enhances the high quality education we provide to all pupils. Outdoor Learning compliments and extends the curriculum we provide in many subjects. It is also integral to the provision of our social and emotional support for many pupils in school.

In March 2020, our school joined the initial year of the Nature Friendly Schools scheme, which is funded by the Department for Education and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) with support from Natural England. It aims to develop teachers’ confidence and ability to drive forward outdoor learning in schools, giving thousands of children from focus areas in England the opportunity to get closer to nature to benefit their learning, health and wellbeing, and care and concern for the environment. It also aims to fuel creativity and a sense of adventure, allowing pupils to experience the joy that nature can bring.

Throughout the school years of 2020-21, we have greatly developed our school grounds (including refurbishing the pond area; establishing a meadow; creating an outdoor classroom) and our outdoor learning provision, focusing on emotional and social welfare.

You can read and see more about the activities in the paragraphs and film below.

30 Days Wild

Each June, the Wildlife Trusts challenge the nation to complete a ‘Random Act of Wildness’ for each day of June, 30 acts in all. An Act of Wildness can be any act which engages with nature, including making a daisy chain, watching the clouds, listening to birdsong, making a work of art from leaves and making a bug hotel. Burlington Juniors took up the challenge, both in school and at home, to do a wild act each day. Activity signs were put up around the school

Emotional Literacy and Social Support

We provide opportunities for outdoor learning to all pupils in Burlington Junior School. We also provide additional opportunities for any pupils who require support to help them develop their emotional literacy, how they are able to express themselves, and to help develop their social skills where needed. Working with our pastoral team, pupils are able to work in groups or one to one if required to help them engage with their school environment. Many activities are planned and linked to the curriculum; some activities are spontaneous and respond to the needs to the pupils; all activities are also guided by the pupils and respond to their needs.

Mental Health Awareness Week

The 10th – 16th May 2021 was Mental Health Awareness Week, which focusses on what we can all do to look after ourselves.  This year the theme was Nature and for us at Burlington Junior School it has been an ideal time for the children to explore all that our school grounds has to offer. The children completed a range of activities to interact with nature by making habitats and feeders, playing games, writing poems, doing maths, and creating artwork all using natural materials.  They used their senses to recognise the signs of spring and paused to marvel at the natural world. Each pupil in the school wrote a short poem about how they felt in nature which made up the leaves of our ‘Poet-Tree’.

Nature is so central to our psychological and emotional health, that it’s almost impossible to realise good mental health for all without a greater connection to the natural world. Even small contacts with nature can be effective in protecting our mental health, and preventing distress. Many of us are not accessing or benefitting from nature, sometimes not through choice. Nature is not a luxury. It is a resource that must be available for everyone to enjoy, and we believe at Burlington Juniors that accessing nature is important to the whole development of the pupil.

Outdoor Learning

At Burlington Junior School, we believe that learning outdoors enhances the high quality education we provide to all pupils. Outdoor Learning compliments and extends the curriculum we provide in many subjects. It is also integral to the provision of our social and emotional support for many pupils in school. We also enjoy playing games, playing outdoors and using the outdoors for our games. We are always adding to the variety of games we have to offer.

The Meadow Area

When the pupils at Burlington were asked about how they would like the school grounds to develop to help wildlife, a popular idea was to set up a meadow area. A patch of the playing field, sandwiched between the pond area and the Burlington Infants Outdoor Area, was identified as a safe area to protect and allow to develop into a meadow area. The idea is to leave it and let it grow wild this year, then manage it by introducing plant species in the autumn, which will grow next spring. A path was made and planted with donated daffodil and tulip bulbs; this path will be kept short all year for pupils to wander through and watch how the meadow grows and changes throughout the year.

The Pond Area

Burlington Junior School has had a pond area for many years, which over time had become an overgrown wilderness. In 2017, the pond area was refurbished, with Tesco funding, with a new pond, seating, tables with identification pictures and raised beds. Though used, it had become unmaintained during 2020, due to few visits over the winter season; it was then closed during the first lockdown from March 2020 onwards. In June 2020, a Year 6 class of key worker children took on the task of clearing the pond area of weeds and maintaining the pond.

When they first arrived, it was like a scene from The Secret Garden: weeds had taken over parts of the garden; the hedges had overgrown; the pond was full of twigs, leaves and brown water (amazingly, frogs were found living there); the trees overhead kept part of the garden in permanent shadow. Over the next six weeks, the key worker pupils cleared the weeds, cleaned the pond of much of its debris, put in pond weed and pond insects, helped to cut the hedges and trees back and tidied the area for other groups to visit.

Over the past year the frogs have lived in a clean pond and many have been seen. A variety of wildlife have come to visit, as have all of the classes in school, and other schools. It has become one of our wildlife havens within school.

The School Grounds

In addition to the pond and meadow areas, the Nature Friendly Schools project has helped to develop other parts of the school, including creating an outside classroom. Other organisations and initiatives, including Morrisons, RHS, B&Q, Bulb4Kids and Grow Your Own Potatoes have donated plants and equipment to help develop our outdoor areas.

Meadow Maintenance

Last Friday, we had a visit from Andy, our Nature Friendly Schools link, to help develop our meadow area and prepare it for next year. It had already been strimmed down and was waiting for the next phase, which was to scarify the ground to allow other plants and seeds to grow. This involved using rakes to pull up a lot of the grass and other plants on the meadow to create bare patches; this was to allow small planted native wildflower plants and seeds to have space to germinate and grow. This included a plant called ‘Yellow Rattle’ which helps to stop the grass from taking over again and allow the flowers to bloom. It was pouring with rain at times, but that didn’t hold back an army of our resilient volunteers to go out and work hard to help create a meadow which will become an amazing home for wildlife and colour next Spring and Summer. We can’t wait!

“Parents comment that their children ‘really enjoy reading for pleasure’.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Leaders plan aspects of the science curriculum in order to promote
engineering.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Burlington Junior School is a wonderful school with great staff.  They have helped me to become really independent whilst supporting me.  I am really happy at this school.” 

Pupil Feedback

“I like this school because we get to learn new things every day”

Pupil Feedback

“Since implementation of Class Dojo we are much more aware of the things that happen whilst at school.  Also the Dojo Points System is a great way to monitor progress.”

Parent Feedback

“Leaders provide a range of opportunities to develop pupils’ interests.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Leaders are keen to ‘sow the seeds of interest’ regarding careers.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Good transition from Year 4- 5.  My child is in a smaller class, well supported in English and Maths.  Nurtured and settled.”

Parent Feedback

“I like learning about history and the Romans and we are going on a trip to Murton Park.”

Pupil Feedback

“The best thing about Burlington Junior School is the lessons are fun and interesting and we always learn something new.”

Pupil Feedback

“My daughter is very happy at school and is doing well.  I am pleased with her progress.”

Parent Feedback

“My most favourite thing in Burlington Juniors is that we all help each other and that if someone is upset other people go and talk and play with them.” 

Pupil Feedback

“I like learning because I think learning is fun and it allows me to push myself and learn new things every day.”

Pupil Feedback

“I like doing writing and maths because in maths you get to learn different methods to answer questions and I like writing stories.”

Pupil Feedback

“Both children have attended this school.  Both have enjoyed it and have reached their potential.”

Parent Feedback

“Staff, including those at the early stages of their careers, say they feel supported to fulfil their roles.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Would recommend this school 100%.  My child is very happy.”

Parent Feedback

“I like Burlington Junior School because we get to go on trips.”

Pupil Feedback

“Subject leaders are invited to share curriculum plans with governors.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Leaders achieve this
through daily story-time sessions and ‘reading ambassadors’ who promote reading with their peers.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Pupils speak
enthusiastically about the range of after-school activities on offer.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Leaders create a positive environment where pupils flourish.”

Ofsted Feedback

“All 3 of my children are very happy at this school”.

Parent Feedback

“Daily phonics lessons and extra support in the afternoon take place for pupils who are at the early stages of reading.”

Ofsted Feedback

“The thing I like about Burlington Junior school is that the teachers are very nice and it’s easy to make new friends.”

Pupil Feedback

“My kids love it at Burlington Junior School.”

Parent Feedback

“Pupils are happy to
attend school. Parents say their children are ‘well cared for, feel safe and can be
themselves’.”

Ofsted Feedback

“My child has settled really well here, she feels happy and her hard work is recognised.  Very pleased.”

Parent Feedback

“‘There is something for everyone.’ Clubs range from golfing, cheerleading, football and rugby to mindfulness, yoga and knitting.”

Ofsted Feedback

“In school I like the writing because you get to write about your favourite things.  I love all the language you can use.”

Pupil Feedback

“Leaders develop pupils’ experiences beyond the community, including
annual visits to London.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Pupils take home books that match their phonics ability. This helps them to become confident and fluent readers.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Leaders encourage good mental health through nurture sessions and a
‘nature’ programme.”

Ofsted Feedback

“In English and mathematics, pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), remember what they have learned over time.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Leaders are passionate about ensuring that all pupils receive the education they deserve.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Furthermore, leaders invite pupils to attend afterschool sessions to help them catch up quickly.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Leaders continue to develop a broad and balanced curriculum that raises pupils’ aspirations.”

Ofsted Feedback

“This is my third child to go all the way through Burlington and I would recommend this school every time.”

Parent Feedback

“Behaviour and attendance continue to improve throughout school.”

Ofsted Feedback

“My child has settled well into Year 3.  She enjoys Maths especially.”

Parent Feedback

“What I like about Burlington Junior School is learning because if you listen carefully you will get smart and you will have a good education and you will get a good job.”

Pupil Feedback

“My child loves this school.”

Parent Feedback

“Leaders strive to develop a curriculum that engages and inspires pupils.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Leaders have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour.”

Ofsted Feedback

“The school has
put in place a range of strategies and interventions to support pupils with their emotional health and well-being and behaviour.”

Ofsted Feedback

“Communication with parents has improved recently, Class Dojo is a good addition.  Good to see the topics for this half-term.”

Parent Feedback