DFSC Spring 2018 Update

 Spring 2018 brought its challenges with snow and cold weather at times. And when it melted our pond flooded!

Despite this we carried on running some very successful outdoor learning courses, predominantly with Year 4 groups, who got on with things despite the weather. They had great fun and dealt with all the challenges with great resilience.

 A lot of our developments over the last few months have been the sort that don't visually stand out but are nevertheless important maintenance and upgrades, particularly for safety. E.g our main fire staircase has had new landing platforms installed and has been completely painted. It has gone form being white to black, to be less intrusive to the architecture of the building.

Also just visible, top right, is a new upgraded lightning conductor and surge protection device that have been installed to comply with new regulations.

 The stair treads all have new high visibility non-slip plates on them so that they can be easily seen.

 Also related to fire safety, we have been replacing all our bedroom fire doors with new more modern fire doors. There are also some new emergency lights in the building and again we have spent £000's upgrading some of our lighting to be more efficient and offer greater security and safety.

Another small electrical addition has been a new water boiler to the kitchen in the Garden Room. This now greatly facilitates making hot chocolate for 60+ students when they're having their disco or talent show evening. 

 In February we ran a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Inspection Training Course. This was attended by 12 Instructors from various Outdoor Centres around the country. It provided useful additional training in the best ways to inspect and record checks on all climbing related equipment.

 Every item is individually coded and reference to its serial number for inspection twice a year in addition to its pre-use check.

Obviously safety is a key priority when looking after our groups but we do still try to keep our activities exciting and adventurous and sometimes there remains an element of risk that is integral to the challenge. Our crate stacking is a good example of this and we have recently uploaded a new You Tube video of this in action - see below. Our risk/benefit assessment manages the main hazards but there remains the possibility of being hit by a falling crate or getting bumped when the stack collapses. An element of unpredictability keeps the activity exciting for all concerned. The benefits in terms of developed teamwork, communication skills, trust and cooperation etc. outweigh the risks and provide learning outcomes that would not be so easily attained with a mundane non-adventurous challenge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq3s_CPQQgQ 

General Update March 14

Spring is here! The sun is out and so are the daffodils.

 

Do you remember struggling to open the old back yard gate? No more - we now have a nice new one with a split opening for easy pedestrian access.

 

 

No more washing up hot chocolate mugs in the evening. Use our new dishwasher in the Student Kitchen

 

We've just spent £8K on renewing and upgrading elements on our High Challenge Course. New round beams have been put up for our Jacob's Ladder to replace the square profile ones we had before. The spacings have also been changed to offer more progression to this team challenge as you get higher. We'll be interested to find out how our groups get on and up.

 

Last week we ran a very successful INSET training day for teachers looking at numeracy and literacy in the outdoors, alongside other cross curricular learning outcomes.

Above a group of teachers replay a video of a successful 'Leap of Faith'

 

Despite poor weather the group immersed themselves in a variety of activities with enthusiasm. Above a 'circular mapping' exercise with cross curricular themes and outcomes. The day was supported by 3 Bristol CC School Improvement Officers, including DFSC's line manager below, in our Tunnel System

 



Delegate feedback on the course was all very positive some of which is quoted below:

 

I had a fantastic day in a fantastic setting. There are plenty of meaningful learning opportunities that will benefit all children in a holistic way. I would recommend visiting Dean Field to any primary school looking to provide a memorable experience for their children.

Shaun Hartnell, Yr 3 Teacher, Westbury-on-Trym Academy

An engaging, collaborative day that built/developed strong relationships, confidence and team building skills. A day that opened my eyes to how powerful and effective the outdoor learning environment can be!

Emma Robinson, St George C of E Primary

I was really impressed with the centre’s depth of knowledge about how to use their resources to develop cross-curricular learning, emotional development and children’s learning skills. A huge deal of thought has gone into the provision and how teachers could be supported to use it with their own classes. Overall I am extremely impressed with the centre and can’t wait to bring children here myself!

Joe Cook, Hannah More Primary

Fantastic place! Love the problem solving activities. I will definitely be trying these in my school. Great bunch of people with outstanding staff! Fantastic experience! Can’t wait to come back!

Emily Ball, New Fosseway Special School

A fantastic day which gave a wealth of ideas for literacy, numeracy and ICT. Also showed how many outcomes can be met through one activity.

 

Leanne Wilding, Fonthill

Thanks for a great day! It provided me with opportunities to experience the activities my class could benefit from if we came here and plenty of cross- curricular links with our curriculum which we could focus on here. It has also made me reconsider the values and emphasis we put on our curriculum and children’s learning and how learning outdoors could develop far more skills and emotional literacy than a classroom can! I’ll be back!

Claire Carpenter, Fonthill, Southmead

 

 



The Dean Garden Room & Pond Cabin

Well the new classroom and lab buildings are now finished and we're looking forward to their formal opening on 11th May when the Lord Mayor of Bristol will be opening them with many invited guests. We didn't want to simply call them the classroom and lab as we expect a variety of user groups to enjoy using them ranging from parent and toddler groups to corporate training groups and even wedding parties.

With that in mind we would like to introduce you to "The Dean Garden Room" above. It is a beautiful timber construction with many eco features including low energy use and a wildflower meadow roof. Natural lighting is provided by large bifolding doors and roof lights and heating is from a fully automated wood pellet boiler system providing renewable energy heating from sustainable sources.

The roof terrace above allows students to view the living roof and the habitats it provides. It will be part of a series of orientation activities that allow students to learn about the sustainable features of the buildings and their place within the environment. The panoramic views of the village and Centre gardens are even better than we expected and no doubt it won't be long before a small group choose to have their picnic lunch up there! We'll certainly look to Blog the first bride and groom wedding photo!

Inside the building we have created a comfortable meeting area at one end. Later this will be separated from the main part of the building by a retractable partition once the timbers have settled and this can be installed.

The building of course has a disabled toilet but we've also included a shower and baby change table to cater for the possible varied use of the building.

We've decided the kitchen is better than most of our kitchens at home! You can certainly make a couple of tea easily enough but we think it is spacious enough to provide catering for an evening group and also use as a bar serving area.

The picnic tables on the deck under the canopy have just been used for the first time by our resident group who enjoyed their lunch there.

"Pond Cabin" is our wonderful new laboratory poised on stilts over the pond. It has already been well received by several groups of students doing their stream studies. The wet room floor makes it easy to wash any sploshed out welly-water down the central drain hole!

Inside it is surprisingly spacious and when be using by some users will make an excellent 'break out room' for group work for up to 20 people. We will be able to put our microscopes and charts etc. away in the built in cupboards and provide a meeting room with a difference.

We particularly like the design and shape of the ceiling.

The views out of the window aren't bad either and the pond has now got a resident pair of ducks who have taken up residence.

INSET Training Start of Term

As I write this 17 teachers and staff from a primary school are starting their Autumn term with an INSET day with us. They are working in two groups and having a go at several of our in grounds activities: Team Problem Solving Challenges, Crate Stacking, Zip Wire and Abseiling. They are also doing an Environmental Scavenger Hunt up in the Forest and have just enjoyed a pub lunch before getting going again.

They're having a great time and enjoying the experience despite initial concerns. I was quick to point out that we work under the philosophy of 'challenge by choice'. Having said that many are achieving things they never thought they would have done at the beginning of the day! It all goes to show that Outdoor Learning works whatever your age.

We have now run quite a few INSET days for school staff as well as other corporate groups. They make great team bonding days. This school is also using it as CPD for what you can do with children and is also using it as a way to look at observing behaviour and motivations and providing feedback.

It's also been a nice way for us to start the term before our first residential group of children arrive on Monday. So if you fancy doing something different for your next INSET day - give us a call!