As our total grants to Hertfordshire schools passes the £1/4 million mark (December 2020), we received some great photographs of our first ever Effective Learning Major Award back in 2018. The £10,000 grant went to Longdean School to develop a fantastic outdoor learning area. Here are some before and after photos featuring the latest shots of the finished area.
A snippet from the Award News Item reminds us about the bid:
Edufunduk are very pleased to announce we have awarded Longdean School in Hemel Hempstead the £10,000 Major Award in Effective Learning. The prize money will be used to set up a wildlife pond, observation tank and dipping platform on their site.
The huge benefits of outdoor learning were key to this winning application for Effective Learning. Tracy Doyle (Finance Director) coordinated an excellent bid which drew on research that showed learning outside can reduce stress, boost creativity and problem-solving skills and greatly increase engagement and motivation. For SEN children, other research has shown contact with nature can reduce symptoms of ADHD.
The pond facility will be used for practical science lessons and environmental studies of natural British plants and wildlife as well as a general open-air study area.