Wells Field Studies Centre

 

Wells Field Studies Centre tries to live by its motto ‘inspire, motivate and participate’. Young people who visit learn about sustainability and the outdoors. As a Green Flag ‘Eco-Centre’ they have just celebrated their fortieth birthday and received the 'Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge'. We hear about what they have to offer schools.

 The Centre lies in the heart of Wells-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk coast within walking distance of diverse and very special fieldwork sites.  The Centre is part of Norfolk County Council’s Children Services and together with its sister Centre at Holt Hall makes up part of the Environmental and Outdoor Learning Team.  Both Centres were involved in the pilot stage of the ‘Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge’ and have been awarded the badge in recognition that they take the needs of users into account, have a strong emphasis on learning and outcomes and operate in a healthy and safe environment.  The experienced centre staff take the welfare of their visiting young people seriously and have a variety of mechanisms in place to safely manage risk.  The young people themselves get involved in the real-world skill of day-to-day risk/benefit assessment.

 The Centre

 The Building dates from 1838 when it was built as the town’s school.  When a new school was built in 1968 Norfolk County Council made the then radical decision to turn the school into a Field Studies Centre.  The Centre recently hosted its 40^th birthday party which saw past and present staff and students join together to reflect and celebrate.

 Today the Centre provides day and residential visits to a variety of schools and specialises in Key Stage 2.  The 7 – 11 year old participants usually stay for 2.5 days and take part  in a variety of activities from exploring the beach habitat to experiencing the awe and wonder of the salt marsh habitat and from developing compass skills to investigating beach processes.  The courses on offer are cross-curricular in nature and are tailored to specific schools’ needs. 

 Most activities are half a day long and start with an introduction to establish where children’s current understanding is and to ‘hook them in’ to the learning that follows.  The majority of a session will take place outdoors, perhaps in the Pinewoods, on the wide open sandy beach, on the salt marshes, in Wells town itself or on the neighbouring Holkham Hall estate.  Children work in teams throughout their stay and sessions tend to be a mix of whole-class and group work, very much focusing on hands-on experiences.  

 The benefits

The benefits of Learning Outside the Classroom are now widely acknowledged.  Staff at Wells Field Studies Centre see the evidence of this on a daily basis as the activities they offer:  

·      Help make sense of previous theoretical learning

·      Are accessible to children who might not access learning in the classroom environment

·      Make learning fun

·      Give opportunities for the development of communication and teamwork skills

·      Develop life skills such as cooperation, respect and consideration

·      Extend horizons and aspirations

·      Offer a chance to experience the awe and wonder of the natural world

·      Provide a chance to experience alternative ways of living

·      Encourage earth stewardship

·      Promoting healthy lifestyles through physical exertion and sensible eating

 It is clear  that the Centre supports the various Every Child Matters outcomes but it is life outside of the ‘formal’ activities that further enhances the value of visits to Wells.  The Centre’s ethos has been developed over 4 decades and now very much focuses on modelling healthy and sustainable lifestyles to its young visitors and providing opportunities for participation. 

In addition to developing children's understanding of geography, science, history and English we also have a PSHE focus that evolves throughout their stay.  During a 2.5 day visit children develop skills of independence by being responsible for their own belongings and making their own decisions. They participate in the preparation of healthy food, share responsibility for daily domestic tasks like washing and drying up, learn about growing by helping Centre Staff sow, tend and harvest crops and make space for nature by remembering to tend the Centre bird feeding station.  Staff hope that children will gain in self-confidence and enhance their self-esteem by participating, enjoying and succeeding in these activities. 

Sustainable schools

Wells Field Studies Centre is now recognized as a Green Flag ‘Eco-Centre’ with staff and young people working together to lessen its impact on planet earth and the people who live on it.  All visitors, including the many adults who attend training at the Centre, join together to adhere to an ‘Eco-Code’ which aims to reduce energy and water use, be considerate of people and planet when making decisions, reduce waste going to landfill and enhance the natural world by making space for nature. 

The life children experience whilst staying at the Centre links well to the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ Sustainable Schools Framework.  The Framework aims to support schools in becoming sustainable by 2020, and to prepare young people for a lifetime of sustainable living.  Daily routines at the Centre introduce children to aspects of sustainable living and the Centre is used as an inspirational location for teacher training on the theme of becoming an ‘Eco-School’.  

Residential visits

For residential visits the Centre can cater for up to 33 children with free accompanying adults.  Schools visiting the Centre have sole occupancy and access to an indoor games room, a dining room, a common room, a fully equipped classroom with an interactive board and a playground on site.  For schools wishing to focus on food as a way of developing skills there are options for involving children in the preparation of meals.  Prior to every residential visit schools work with centre staff to create an itinerary that meets the schools’ objectives and provides opportunities for preparation and follow-up work that links to their curriculum.  To discuss your schools requirement and how the Centre might be able to support you with a visit please call Nell Seal on 01328 710525 or email nell.seal@ norfolk.gov.uk

 

www. norfolk.gov.uk/wellsfieldcentre