A Message from Nature Days

Hello! While the Welsh summer holidays are still in full swing, I wanted to reach you before term-time chaos hits. I’ve just had two glorious weeks resetting in the woods and feel fully recharged and excited for the year ahead, I hope you’re getting some rest too!

Availability is tighter this year
I’m taking on an exciting new challenge this term, which means fewer field trip slots throughout the year. Please check your school’s topics, especially for summer term,  and book early to secure your date.

Staff INSET & Mentoring
Want your staff trained in high-quality, progressive outdoor learning? If you’ve read Learning Indoors and Out in the Primary School: An Integrated Approach, why not book a chat with the author herself? Dawn can mentor your school through putting the book’s ideas into practice.

Thinking about staff training, or is outdoor learning on your School Development Plan? Nature Days offers whole-school development packages at a range of prices, explore them here.

GCSE Geography Fieldwork (WJEC Unit 2, Made for Wales)
Choose from Mitigating Risk or Place and Space for next year. Flexible formats include:

• Two full days in the field
• One day teaching in school + one day in the field
• One day in the field with pre-teaching training videos

Book early – find out more here.

Dates are filling fast – email dawnnaturedays@gmail.com to book or chat about your outdoor learning journey.

Swansea Schools Outdoor Learning Network
We’re relaunching with online meetings to welcome schools from a wider area. Please follow or share this newsletter to help us grow a supportive community of schools and outdoor learning providers. I’ve also connected with exciting outdoor learning contacts in Neath and Port Talbot who are keen to join the conversation, watch this space!

Open INSET sessions are listed below.

Outdoor Numeracy: ‘Where Learning Comes to Life’

Knelston Primary SchoolSwansea, Swansea

Wednesday, October 21  •  9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Explore how maths comes to life outdoors. Practical ideas to support meaningful, engaging numeracy across the primary phase.

This full-day session aims to support primary practitioners to make better use of the outdoors to support maths and numeracy. Across Swansea, many schools are already investing in their outdoor spaces, and the next step is to ensure these environments are used in meaningful, purposeful ways that truly enhance children’s learning.

This session focuses on how maths and numeracy naturally comes to life outdoors. You’ll explore what good outdoor numeracy actually looks like, how to spot maths in everyday experiences, and how to support children’s thinking through real-life, purposeful contexts. The session will be practical, interactive and full of ideas you can take straight back to your setting.

Target Audience

• Primary teachers (Foundation Learning to Year 6)

• TAs and HLTAs

• Senior leaders

• Maths/Numeracy or curriculum leads

Please note: this session is for Swansea school employees only.

Session Aims

• Understand what high-quality outdoor numeracy looks like

• Plan meaningful maths opportunities in real-life and outdoor contexts

• Develop practical ways to support children’s thinking, problem solving and progression in an outdoor setting

Wishing you a great start to the new year and look forward to working with you.

Best regards

Dawn Thomas