It’s a SHORE THING
Beyond getting lots of fresh sea air, Beach School has many holistic learning benefits for Early Years pupils, from practical skills and eco-consciousness to emotional regulation and mindfulness, says Ant Falkus, Head of Brighton College Prep School in East Sussex
Brighton College Prep School’s Beach School is an innovative approach to learning that offers pupils much more than just a day out by the sea. This holistic approach provides an opportunity for pupils to experience the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of learning in a coastal environment. The Beach School’s curriculum focuses on holistic learning, offering a wide range of hands-on experiences that promote curiosity and team-building exercises.
From the smallest cohort in nursery to our ambassadors in year eight, pupils participate in all that’s on offer at the beach. Activities include yoga classes, breathwork sessions, and mindfulness techniques that help them manage their emotions. They also participate in regular beach cleans that educate them on the importance of protecting the environment. Studying in a coastal environment has numerous benefits that extend beyond the classroom.
Research has shown that being close to the sea lowers stress levels, promotes relaxation, and improves mental health.
Soak up the atmosphere
The sound of waves, the smell of saltwater, and the sensation of sand between your toes all contribute to a sense of peace and wellbeing. Learning by the sea offers unique opportunities that can pique pupils’ curiosity and inquisitiveness, such as observing marine life, identifying different types of shells and rocks, and exploring tide pools.
The Beach School initiative fosters community and kindness among pupils. Pupils make ‘ kindness rocks’ with inspirational messages painted on to pebbles left behind for others to collect, spreading positivity and joy. Learning on the coast enhances physical activity, as pupils engage in beach walks, paddling, and collaborative beach games. The Beach School also promotes safety awareness, as specialist teachers provide a stimulating environment for children to explore and, at the same time, ensure their wellbeing.
Let nature be the muse
Beach School has been a successful project since its inception. It assists in providing an immersive learning experience that allows pupils to connect with nature and improve their mental and physical wellbeing, while encouraging them to develop a greater appreciation of the environment and the role they can play in preserving it.
It incorporates the use of tech in the learning process too. Using cameras and iPads, pupils can capture and document their experiences, creating a digital portfolio of their learning journey, which pupils can journal about. They love taking their art lessons to the sea, as it provides them with an inspiring environment to express their creativity.
THE SOUND OF WAVES, THE SMELL OF SALTWATER, and the sensation of sand between your toes ALL CONTRIBUTE TO A SENSE OF PEACE AND WELLBEING
Packed with their art supplies, they walk to the beach and create beautiful watercolour paintings, chalk drawings on pebbles, and even make recycled art from plastic they’ve found on the shore. is not only enhances their artistic skills but also teaches them about the importance of recycling and taking care of the environment. e beach provides a perfect backdrop for these art lessons, with its natural beauty and calming atmosphere inspiring our pupils’ creativity and imagination.
One of the key bene ts of the Beach School initiative is that it has positively impacted pupils and the local community. e programme has also helped pupils develop essential life skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. In addition, the Beach School initiative has provided pupils with a unique opportunity to learn in a way that’s di erent from traditional classroom learning. It has allowed pupils to learn in an experiential, educational, enjoyable, and fun environment. e Beach School has helped pupils develop an appreciation for the natural world and its beauty, essential in today’s world, where children are o en disconnected from nature.
THE BEACH SCHOOL INITIATIVE HAS PROVIDED pupils with a unique opportunity to learn in a way THAT’S DIFFERENT FROM
TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM LEARNING
Book-learning on the beach
e Beach School initiative at Brighton College Prep School incorporates all academic subjects as well as holistic learning. e pupils learn their spellings by writing them in the sand and then reading them aloud, while maths lessons use shells, pebbles, and other natural materials found on the beach to assist with counting. is unique approach to learning helps pupils engage with academic material in a more hands-on and interactive way.