Learning Environments

Indoor and outdoor learning environments are important to us at McLaren Vale Primary School. We believe that every child and adult has the right to beauty and our learning environments reflects this. Our classroom and specialist teachers spent considerable time creating calming, engaging and positive learning spaces for children, often including students in this process.

McLaren Vale Primary School has wonderful facilities including a beautiful green oval and ambient school grounds. We have 3 buildings containing our teaching and learning spaces as well as some transportable buildings; a school gym used for PE lessons and whole school events; a well resourced library led by our wonderful librarian; a Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program with spaces for cooking (4 kitchen bays) and gardening (a huge space with chickens and a garden classroom), a bush tucker garden, an OSHC (Out of School Hours Care – before and after school), canteen, large nature play space, double hard surface courts, 3 playgrounds (R-1 / 2-3 / 4-6) and a gorgeous outdoor classroom. Sections of the school’s grounds have purpose designed garden areas providing an idyllic setting for students to learn about sustainability and the care of local flora and fauna.

At McLaren Vale Primary School we hold a very strong image of the child as competent and capable and our nature play area provides opportunities for children to explore risk and challenge themselves. Throughout the school we have designed many outdoor spaces and areas that allow teachers to work with their children as a whole class, in small groups and as individuals. Outdoor learning environments are important for encouraging healthy behaviours and improving the physical, educational and mental wellbeing of children and young people. They also connect children and young people to the natural world creating a sense of responsibility for the environment and allow children to experience nature play for all the benefits it provides: fostering interaction, autonomy, exploration and curiosity.

We are strong advocates of nature play and every day in these spaces we see firsthand its benefits: children are developing their learning dispositions of imagination, curiosity, confidence, persistence, resilience, concentrations; as well as developing their skills in problem solving, self-regulation, resourcefulness, collaboration and ability to self-assess risk.

Staff understand the benefits and concept of nature play and work together with the children to assess ‘benefits vs. risk’ when working in this space.

Everyday our educators are learning more and more from our children, getting better at taking a step back and letting the children guide their own learning journeys, independently self-assess risk, connect with nature and develop their full potentials.

We have a Grounds and Environment Action Team that has student representatives from Reception to Year 6.  The group meets twice per term to gain authentic student voice in improving areas and processes across the school environment.