Roots is our dedicated woodland outdoor learning program designed to support re-engagement for learners who may be either struggling in school, have been excluded or are home schooled. Through woodland activities the program aims to builds self-esteem, confidence and resilience, develop social skills and promote positive mental and emotional wellbeing. The Roots program further establishes the foundation for our medium term maintained and longer-term supplemented programs for learners who continue with Roar Trails as part of their broader alternative education provision.
Program Objectives
General
- To build learners’ personal abilities such as self-confidence, self-esteem and resilience through learning new skills and overcoming challenges.
- To develop social skills through building positive relationships,working collaboratively on tasks and through adventurous play.
- To promote positive mental health and emotional well-being by encouraging self-regulation and personal risk management within a safe natural environment.
- To promote healthy and active lifestyles through physically engaging activities and outdoor cooking. Personal
- To support the development of learners’ EHCP outcomes by focusing delivery and setting targets that demonstrate progress towards their cognition and learning, communication and interaction, social, emotional, and mental health, and physical and sensory needs.
Target Audience
The program is designed to provide a nurturing and supportive environment for learners who are either not in full-time education or need additional support outside the classroom as part of a supplemented education. Roar Trails recognises the diverse needs among young people, particularly those struggling to access mainstream education, whereby the Roots program is suited for learners of primary school age who:
- require support outside the classroom to help them re-engage
- are either at risk or have already been excluded from school
- have identified special educational needs
- may be home-schooled
ROAR TRAILS – “ROOTS” PROGRAMME Activities Overview
The program is structured around four pillars: Bushcraft Skills, Outdoor Cooking,
Woodland Crafts and Adventurous Play.
Bushcraft Skills: Learners will access a range of bushcraft skills such as fire lighting, shelter building and whittling.
Open Fire Cooking: Learners will use their acquired bushcraft skills to create and maintain a fire for cooking, follow simple recipes and cook their food on an open fire. Examples of food we might cook include bread, popcorn, cakes and pizza’s.
Woodland Craft: Learners will have the chance to be creative in using natural materials to create woodland crafts such as nature art, clay modelling, weaving and gardening.
Adventurous Play & Exploration: Learners are encouraged to explore the woodland environment and use their imagination to come up with games and rules and enjoy the natural sensory environment. It is typical for learners to play tag and hide and seek, enjoy tree swings and climb, connect with nature and be mindful.
Session Timings & Program Length
Learners on the Roots program will attend 2 half-day sessions, either in the morning or afternoon, each lasting 3 hours. The Roots program is scheduled for a full term of up to 14 weeks. Upon completion, if additional alternative provision has been agreed upon, learners will then advance to the Explore program.
Supervision
We have an experienced team of staff in both outdoor activities and with working with young people with special educational needs. At induction learners’ needs are carefully considered when matching to instructors so that they have the best chance to build appropriate relationships. Dependent on learner needs staff on program can work on two instructors to one learner ratio or within small groups whereby specific social outcomes have been identified.
Personalised Targets & Reporting
Learners with identified special educational needs supported by an education, health care plan have set personalised targets to support their progression towards identified EHCP outcomes. Progress against targets and EHCP outcomes is feedback to stakeholders every half term through a written report.
Accredited Outcomes
Learners can obtain a series of AQA unit award cer>ficates to acknowledge their achievements. The goal of the unit award scheme is to recognize accomplishments of all sizes, provided it offers the learner a valuable educa>onal experience. The scheme aims to enhance learner confidence and self esteem by rewarding and acknowledging their abili>es.
In addition to capture and celebrate the personal learning that happens on the Roots program learners reflect on their own behaviours around six value areas: being safe, learning, respect, self, other and the environment. Upon completion all learners are rewarded with a personalised certificate and badge to acknowledge their achievement of a national outdoor learning award.