About Us
Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools (PODS) was founded by headteachers Simon Thomas and Kevin Phelps, which then developed into a Professional Learning Community (PLC) in Pembrokeshire in 2010. The PLC included head teachers, teachers, local authority advisors and key strategic partners. Since then it has grown into a dynamic partnership bringing together diverse a diverse range of partners locally and nationally.
What We Offer
- Access to free CPD and INSET events for teaching staff across the county and from further afield.
- Opportunities for subject coordinators and teachers to participate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) focussed on outdoor learning.
- Downloadable bilingual resources and lesson ideas generated from PLCs.
- An optional structured, staged programme of support schools towards whole school cultural change in relation to outdoor learning.
- Opportunities for practical support, advice and input from our partners.
- Recognition and awards for innovative and excellent practice.
- Tracking changes in wellbeing, attendance and end of phase outcomes.
Our Partners
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park hosts the PODS role. The PODS co-ordinator works closely with the Education and Ranger teams who have a wealth of experience and expertise in delivering outdoor learning across sites in the National Park and at schools.
Tavernspite School is very proud to be the first ‘Pembrokeshire Outdoor School’. PODS is a fantastic initiative offering high quality advice and support to schools. We would encourage any school to use PODS as a way of improving and developing their use of outdoor learning to support its young people.
Lamphey Primary School is one of the founder members in the development of Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools. The Headteacher and staff are proud to continue to offer advice and support to colleagues nationally.
Sports Pembrokeshire were alongside Darwin Experience when PODS began. Sports Pembrokeshire offers high quality provision to support schools and communities across the county, promoting the benefits of health and wellbeing to ensure everyone has a life long enjoyment of physical activity and sport.
Darwin Experience were one of the initial partners of the PODS. Funded by Dragon LNG, Darwin Experience aims to work with every school in Pembrokeshire every year. The team carries out field trips and workshops on many subjects linked to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
From Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) we are supported and advised by the Education Team; Early Years Advisor Judith Billing, Challenge Advisor Sian Rowles, Strategic and Operational Play Officer Kelly Hamid.
The National Trust is a charity that looks after natural and historic landscapes and buildings for all to enjoy. In Pembrokeshire there are two centres; Stackpole Centre and Colby Woodland, which are free for schools and the public to enjoy and learn.
Field Studies Council (FSC) is an environmental education charity providing informative and enjoyable opportunities to discover, explore, and understand the environment. FSC Dale Fort is set in a spectacular location high on the cliffs within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
The Sustainable Schools Award Scheme recognises pupil learning and staff work on sustainability and global citizenship. Schools plan their work towards the award around eight topics. Outdoor learning plays an important role in making these activities authentic, engaging and meaningful.
Keep Wales Tidy firmly believes that its Eco-Schools programme inspires and empowers pupils to be leaders of change in their communities and widens learning beyond the classroom to develop responsible attitudes and commitment, both at home and in the wider community.
Natural Resources Wales Natural Resources Wales are a public sector organisation and Welsh Government’s principal advisor on the natural environment. PODS are supported by NRW’s Health and Education Team whose role is to ensure people can gain all the well-being benefits the natural environment can provide for us through learning in it, learning about it and learning for it.
The ‘Healthy School’ is one which takes responsibility for maintaining and promoting the health of all who ‘learn, work, play and live’ within it not only by formally teaching pupils about how to lead healthy lives but by enabling pupils and staff to take control over aspects of the school environment which influence their health.
Pembrokeshire County Council recognises that play is paramount to health, well-being and resilience of children. Pembrokeshire Play fully understand and champion the right that children require opportunities to play in school, at home, in their communities, outside, with friends and by themselves. Pembrokeshire Play’s vision for the future of play is to develop regular, sustainable, innovative and fully inclusive play opportunities.
The Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation (SAC) works to manage marine sites to maintain and improve the marine wildlife in that area. Raising awareness of how marine habitats and species and human activities can c-exist is key to the work of SAC and they have produced bilingual resources for schools and groups.
Tir Coed connects people with land (tir) and woods (coed) by delivering outdoor training, learning and wellbeing programmes. Tir Coed offer woodland based activity sessions, training courses and volunteering across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys.
Foreword from Headteacher Mr Thomas of Lamphey Primary School
As a child I remember playing outside, not just in my back garden playing ball games but in the fields, woods and on the coast. I was able to discover the natural world around me by climbing trees, making dens playing in streams and rock pools. At the time I did not appreciate how amazing and formative those days were. I was just enjoying my childhood with my friends and family.
Sadly, the proliferation and popularity of indoor pastimes like online games and TV, coupled with factors like increased road traffic and safety concerns, have resulted in many children today believing they have no reason to leave the house. For some their curiosity about nature is being lost. If this continues it seems inevitable that future generations will lose their connections with nature.
Exploring the world around you is a crucial part of childhood. As well as learning about the environment, the benefits of being outside including the development of a positive self-image advanced social skills, confidence in your abilities and experiences in dealing with uncertainty.
Recent research shows that there has been a significant decline in the way children are able to play, explore and discover the outdoors and this is particularly worrying as- ‘An adult’s attitude to the environment and time spent in green space is strongly influenced by their experience as a child. The critical age of influence appears to be before 12years old.’ (Bird. Dr W. (2007) Natural Thinking).
Not only are children becoming less engaged with their local natural environment they are also less willing to become active out of doors. In Wales, a worrying 21% of 15 year olds boys and 18% of 15 year old girls are overweight or obese and we have the highest number of obesity cases in Europe and North America and this obesity problem is directly linked to inactivity and diet.
Fortunately schools in Pembrokeshire have been using the outdoors for learning, to different degrees for many years. There is already a wealth of support available to schools from outside agencies, such as the National Park, the Darwin Centre, Sport Pembrokeshire, and the National Trust.
In 2002, Pembrokeshire Local Education Authority introduced Forest School into the County and since then, there has been a steady increase in the number of schools offering Forest School provision. However, many schools would like to make more use of the outdoors, wherever they are situated and this is why the idea of Outdoor Schools was originally developed by the local teachers of Pembrokeshire.
Mr. Simon Thomas
Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools Partner
Headteacher, Lamphey Primary School
