Winsley Primary School Experience Wild Monkton Enrichment Programme

This arrangement began in October 2022 when Year 6 pupils from a local primary school (Winsley CofE Primary) were invited to participate in aa carousel of activities based in the grounds of Monkton Senior School. The aim is for this to happen once a term each year. 

Aims

Aims were:

1. Building a link between the two schools

2. Giving Winsley pupils the opportunity to explore and use Monkton's grounds e.g. files, the pond, firepits, kitchens.

3. To provide opportunities for creativity, learning new skills, exploration and team work.

Background

This venture came about due to a previous member of staff at Monkton Senior school now working at Winsley CofE Primary (headteacher).

Resources

Resources used at Monkton Senior School were: school facilities and grounds including the pond, cooking facilities, fire pits and the outdoor classrooms. 

Both teaching and non-teaching staff assisted. This included chaplaincy staff, teaching staff, support staff and Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA). Winsley school staff also attended. 

It was financed by the Enrichment budget at Monkton.

Impact

The headteacher from Winsley School, Mr Ross Wolverson, gave the following feedback:

'The Wild Monkton project benefitted all of our 27 Year 6 children who spent the afternoon on the school site, they were able to engage in extracurricular activities that we would be unable to provide (such as fire pit art) and has even inspired us to launch our own 'Wild Winsley' project as we seek to improve the biodiversity of our own school site.  The fact the experience was free (including transport to and from the school) meant that many disadvantaged children were also able to participate and we did not have to allocate any of our already overburdened budget. Our heartfelt thanks to our friends at Monkton.' 

Pupil Involvement

Pupils involved from Winsley CofE Primary were Year 6 (aged 10/11), both boys and girls, 27 in total.

Frequency

This is an on-going activity which is scheduled to take place three times a year.