More than twenty families from Portland have attended a special ‘beach school’ session.
The special class was laid on by Atlantic Academy to showcase a unique aspect of life at the school.
The session, held on Black Barge beach featured a range of activities including trench building, art sand drip sculptures, weighing and measuring, sandcastle building and volcano eruptions, and ended with shared story time.
Beach school is a key element of the curriculum for pupils at the school, based at Maritime House in Southwell, according to the school's principal Melissa Heppell.
READ: Atlantic Academy pupils paint playground on Portland
She said: “Our proximity to the coast is one of the things that makes Atlantic so special.
“Beach school provides an opportunity for children to immerse themselves in the wonders of our fantastic coast, the seas and beaches that surround our island, with the aim of improving their knowledge about the local coastal environment and connecting them with nature.
"Our community beach school event - the very first - was a way of demonstrating this unique way of learning to parents of current pupils and parents who might be considering joining our Atlantic family in the future.”
She added: “The activities are all designed to encourage teamwork and creativity and the children clearly loved them.
"Our fully qualified beach School practitioner, Ms Russell, is always thinking about ways to bring aspects of the curriculum outside so the children learn through the sensory experience, discovery and investigation.”
READ: Atlantic Academy Portland student organises event on equality
All children from Reception to year six at the school undertake the sessions as part of the curriculum and older students from year four participate in windsurfing and sailing activities.
The response to the community beach school event was very positive and was so successful it will be held for a second time.
Local mum, Lauren Sharpe, who attended with her daughter, commented on the school’s Facebook page.
She said: “Scarlett hasn’t stopped chatting about it to us.”
Tia Naylor added: “Arlo absolutely loved beach school. Thank you so much for putting this together.”
The second session is planned for Thursday, July 4 at 1pm on Black Barge beach.
It is open to all local parents and children aged from two to five.
To reserve a place, contact atlanticoffice@atlantic-aspirations.org
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel