Growing Together for Successful Futures was an ambitious project which included a series of objectives which targeted the needs, goals and key areas for improvement identified by the School Improvement Team. The project provided opportunities for Education Officers, one headteacher and senior teachers to attend training in new approaches, methodologies & ideas linked to Outdoor Education and Green Skills Education. As a result of the mobilities and training experiences the project supported the attendees in the following areas; - to develop current pedagogy in line with the principles of “Schools as Learning Organisations” which is underpinned by teacher research. - to develop skill levels of key stage 2 teachers in relation to outdoor learning and create smoother transition from foundation phase in this vital area - to motivate and engage pupils and instil the positive attitudes to learning that will help improve attendance and ultimately raise standards - to make better and more regular use of the outdoors with KS2 pupils, encouraging respect for the environment and the need for sustainable development
Carmarthenshire County Council was the first local authority in Wales to declare a Climate Emergency in February 2019 and to publish a Net Zero Carbon Plan in February 2020. The Education and Children’s Services Department acknowledged its commitment to this agenda and implemented a strategic plan to support this. Officers from the School Improvement Team were tasked with developing an action plan to support the introduction of Climate Change Education in schools. This included developing a training programme for schools which linked Sustainability, the Principles of a Circular Economy and Outdoor Learning to the Curriculum for Wales. This education led initiative would support behavioural change and provide opportunities for adaptations and mitigation linked to the Climate and Nature Emergency. The School Improvement Team looked at opportunities to extend their understanding of Climate Change Education through training and research. The Erasmus programme provided the opportunity to access training within Europe and would inform future plans to develop an action research programme across a small number o schools. The Erasmus project included schools from within the local authority as part of this strategic plan.