Summer Fun at Hill Hall Farm
Recently, the children from Little Crickets Nursery joined the Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 classes from Argyle House School on a trip to Hill Hall Farm in Lanchester.
The children started their adventure by traveling together by coach, building excitement for the day ahead. The trip offered lots to explore and the children will fondly remember their close encounters with the animals.
Hill Hall Farm gives children experience of a modern, working farm. The farm holds many awards, including the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Award, making it the perfect spot for the children to explore. Learning outside the classroom encourages curiosity about natural processes such as seasonal changes and how animals grow.
During the visit, the children got to meet all the animals on the farm. They spent time handling animals including chicks and lambs.
The Natural World topic from the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum encourages children to explore and observe their environment. By meeting and carefully handling real animals, the children reinforced what they had been learning at Little Crickets Sunderland about living things.
One of the day's other highlights was a bumpy tractor ride around the site. This was lots of fun and gave children the opportunity to develop their observational skills and ask lots of questions to support their learning.
The trip was an exciting day out which brought learning to life and prompted curiosity about the natural world. It was also a valuable opportunity to spend time with older pupils from Argyle House School. These shared experiences help to ease the transition into school life, building confidence and a sense of belonging within the wider school community from the very earliest years.