|
Before a booking is accepted, you must read the Health
and Safety Guidelines for Visiting Schools, sign the attached
form and send it back to us (or bring it with you on the day of
your booking).
Which units of the National Curriculum are covered?
Key Stage 1 and 2 Science:
Unit 1B Growing plants
Unit 2B Plants and animals in the local environment
Unit 2C Variation
Unit 3B Helping plants grow well
Unit 3D Rocks and soils
Unit 4B Habitats
Unit 5B Life cycles plus adapted unit 5B
Unit 6A Interdependence and adaptation
Unit 6B Micro-organisms (short unit)
Key Stage 1 and 2 Geography:
Unit 6 Investigating the local area (Year 6)
Unit 8 Improving the environment (Year 4)
Unit 14 Investigating rivers (Year 6)
Key Stage 1 and 2 Art and Design: Inspiration for art and design
units, especially relating to Unit 2B Mother Nature, designer.
Children are welcome to collect materials for collage under the
guidance of the wardens.
Key Stage 1 and 2 Design & Technology: Unit 1D Homes focussing
on the Millennium Village with the Ecology Park in the centre
Key Stage 1 and 2 Citizenship: Unit 06 Developing our school
grounds - lots of inspiration and advice!
We can combine any of these units on your visit and we welcome
suggestions of other units you would like to cover. Your visit
can include the Ecology Park only, or also cover the Millennium
Village development or the river Thames just outside.
What are the facilities in the Park?
The site has a network of wooden boardwalks, which are suitable
for buggies and wheelchairs. The 2 bird hides are also accessible.
There is a small visitor centre (the Gatehouse) with displays
and information but no classroom facilities - most of the visit
will take place outdoors and there is enough to do around the
site itself for a whole session.
There is one toilet (which is fully accessible) in the Gatehouse.
In wet weather, we still go out in the Park but there is shelter
in the Gatehouse and in the bird hides.
We have pond dipping nets and trays, magnifiers, bug jars, binoculars,
quiz sheets, books and clipboards plus collected flora and fauna
to show the children.
When is the best time to visit the Park?
March and April are good months for visits to look at habitats
and plants during the spring season plus the frog life cycle (with
frogspawn and tadpoles).
May through to October is a good time for bug hunting and for
the wardens to use sweep nets and butterfly nets in the meadows
for a close up look at invertebrates.
June to October is the best time to look at dragonflies and their
life cycle.
The wild flower meadows are at their peak in late June and
July for wetland flowers (but there are lots of them in May and
June) and good opportunities for looking at plant life cycles
Pond dipping (using small nets and trays to catch and take a
close up look at water invertebrates) can be carried out any time
between March and early November.
How many pupils can I bring?
We can accommodate a group of up to 30 children at one time (30
is the maximum number we can accommodate due to health and safety
reasons).
How many adults should I bring?
The minimum recommended adult/pupil ratio is:
Nursery - 1:2
Reception to Year 3 - 1:6
Years 4 to 6 - 1:10
but please bring extra adults if you feel you need them, or have
special needs children who require allocated adults. We ask that
all accompanying adults take equal responsibility for the children.
What should the children wear?
Please ask the children to wear suitable clothes as some activities
may involve sitting on the ground or lying on a boardwalk to do
pond dipping. Although there are boardwalks, there are nettles
and brambles growing in the park, so open-toed sandals are not
suitable. In hot weather, please make sure children are adequately
protected with sun cream, hats etc. We have a drinking water supply,
but schools are welcome to bring their own drinks. In cold or
wet weather, please make sure children are wearing waterproof
or warm clothing. Please also bring a spare set of clothes in
an appropriate size for your class age (we have emergency blankets
and towels).
Is there a charge?
Educational visits are free. We reserve the right to charge for
missing items of equipment at the end of a session.
How do I book a visit?
Before a booking is accepted, you must read the Health
and Safety Guidelines for Visiting Schools, sign the attached
form and send it back to us (or bring it with you on the day of
your booking).
Just ring Joanne Smith or Tony Day, the site wardens, on 020
8293 1904 or email us.
We book school visits on Mondays and Tuesdays as the Park is closed
to the public on those days and you will have full use of the
facilities and 2 wardens on site. Please be aware that we book
up very quickly for the spring and summer terms, so book early!
Printable
version of this page
 Contact
details, access, and opening times
GPEP
Staff
What's
about in the Park this month?
Volunteering
at the Park
Health
and Safety Guidelines for Visiting Schools
|
