Pupils at Elmsleigh Infant and Nursery School have been recognised for their commitment to the environment after helping transform an unused patch of land into a thriving forest learning area.
The school, on Queens Drive in Swadlincote, has been awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award in recognition of its ongoing environmental work – much of it driven by the children themselves.
Every class is represented on the school’s Eco Council, with pupils playing a key role in shaping green initiatives across the school. Members helped design the new forest learning area and have watched it develop into a space where children can explore nature, learn outdoors and build confidence through play.
The woodland is already inspiring a new generation of environmentalists and explorers.
Riley, a member of the Eco Council, said: “I want to be an explorer and travel the world when I grow up, finding all the cute animals.”
He added that he enjoys watching programmes featuring Sir David Attenborough and Steve Backshall and loves discovering wildlife in the school’s forest area.
“I’ve already found an earwig and a butterfly,” he said.
Fellow Eco Council member Carter has developed a passion for growing plants and even tried planting a tree.
“I like to help things grow,” he said. “It’s good being outdoors.”
Maliya also enjoys learning outdoors.
“I like being outside. I’ve learned lots about pinecones and how they open when the weather is dry but close if it’s going to rain,” she said.
Ms Bailey, Head of School, said: “This award is wonderful recognition, but what makes us most proud is seeing our pupils develop confidence, curiosity and a real sense of responsibility for the world around them. They have helped shape this space and now care for it and learn from it every day.”
She added that the award reflects the enthusiasm and dedication shown by pupils across the school and recognises the positive difference they are making to both their environment and their own learning.
The school is already planning the next stage of the project, with ambitions to create a dedicated forest learning area for nursery pupils so they too can enjoy regular access to outdoor education from an early age.
Staff are also fundraising for a pergola in the existing woodland space, allowing lessons to continue throughout the year, whatever the weather. Plans are in place to introduce grow bags where children can cultivate fruit and vegetables, building on the potatoes already grown elsewhere on the school grounds.
Ms Bailey said: “The children absolutely love the space and we are being led by them. We have planters here filled with soil, and we were going to plant seeds in them, but the children have absolutely loved digging in the mud, so we’ll leave them like that for now. If they move on from that and want to grow something instead, we can.”
The woodland is becoming more than just an outdoor classroom. The school, which has a significant number of pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), hopes to make greater use of the area during lunchtimes, providing a calm, natural space to support emotional regulation and wellbeing.
Teachers have already seen the educational benefits the environment can offer. Children are regularly encouraged to think independently, collaborate with their classmates and solve problems through unstructured play and exploration.
During one recent session, a group of pupils set themselves the challenge of planting a long stick so it could “grow into a tree”. Without any adult guidance, they worked together to develop a solution, digging deeper into the ground, collecting mud to stabilise it and supporting one another until the six-foot stick stood upright.
The impromptu project showcased the teamwork, resilience and creative problem-solving that the school believes outdoor learning naturally encourages, while giving children the freedom to lead their own discoveries.
This press release was written by Kirsty Green on behalf of Esteem Multi Academy Trust. If you want help sharing you story, get in touch!
