Connecting with nature for SEND students at Dixons Kings Academy

Getting started 

The first step for Dixons Kings was exploring their outdoor space, gaining a concrete understanding of what their grounds currently look like and what they might like to improve. The exploring your school site Nature Park resources highlighted that their site was mostly a large field covered in turf, and due to poor drainage and it being on a slope, it was unusable for sports. 

It was a bit of a biodiversity desert, and served no purpose to the school or the natural environment.”

Thomas Smith, Geography teacher. 

Dixons Kings wanted to provide their pupils with access to nature, improve the biodiversity of their site and enhance student learning about maintaining school grounds. 

Consulting students

Students were consulted as to what they wanted their outdoor space to look like, and this fed into deciding what habitat improvements to implement. They were particularly interested in having multiple bird feeders to attract more birds after they observed the impact of one they already had on site. Accessibility was also an important consideration as some pupils are wheelchair users or have limited mobility.  

Making change happen 

During timetabled gardening lessons, SEND students have led the way in transforming their outdoor space, alongside KS3 and KS4 students who volunteered during break times to plant trees and move equipment. Duke of Edinburgh students will complete the volunteering section of the Award through developing and maintaining their Nature Park area. 

Staff volunteered their time on weekends and INSET days, with some parents building a wheelchair accessible path on a Saturday morning. In the future they hope to host community days to help develop their site further.  

Staff and students worked together to plant over 400 trees, with students coming outside during their break time to help with the planting. 

Plan a day and get as many students involved as possible with as many tools as you can find.

Thomas Smith, Geography Teacher 

Linking to the curriculum  

Dixons Kings plans to run a staff training day and a drop-down day to showcase the uses of the space to staff and students. They hope to encourage all teachers to take their teaching outside.  

Taking form time reading outside is a simple example that might work in most settings.

Thomas Smith, Geography Teacher 

The impact of the Nature Park

I feel happy when I'm outside. Since the start of the year, log seating has been added, grass has grown, we’ve added dogwood and holly trees, built a walkway and added fruit trees.

SEND pupil

Dixons Kings hope that in five years' time their outdoor space will be healthy with lots of trees and a pathway to immerse yourself in nature.  

Top tips for other schools  

Just go for it. The impact you can have on a group of children is huge.”

Thomas Smith, Geography Teacher