West Boldon Environmental Education Centre have
delivered a number of teacher training programmes:

Literacy through the Environment
The aim of this course is to demonstrate how parts of the National Literacy Strategy can be delivered using outdoor activities. The natural and built environment is a rich resource which can be used to inspire and support many aspects of literacy work. The course aims to develop knowledge, skills and understanding of how activities in the environment can stimulate literacy work both in and out of the classroom.
Recycling Materials in your School
The course covers issues surrounding waste both from a school perspective and ideas for classroom activities. Topics include health & safety issues, how to undertake a waste audit in school, how to set up recycling and composting systems in school, and investigating waste related CD-Roms. Classroom activities include making recycled paper and materials analysis.
Early Years Activities in the School Grounds
Participants experience a wide range of outdoor activities, which relate to curriculum subjects including geography, science, literacy and maths. The course aims to increase knowledge and understanding of the learning opportunities available in the school grounds.
West Boldon Environmental Education Centre Taster Day
This course informs how West Boldon Environmental Education Centre can assist schools to deliver the science curriculum through visits to the site. Participants experience a wide range of the activities on offer at the Centre. The course is aimed at teachers of Key Stages 1 & 2 and those teaching children with special educational needs.
Primary Geography in your School Grounds & Locality
The course aims to develop knowledge, skills & understanding in the use of the school grounds and local area for developing an enquiry approach to geography. The course explores site surveying and planning issues, investigates geographically themed playground games and looks at literacy resources for geography.
Numeracy through the Environment
The natural and built environment close to schools provides a rich outdoor classroom in which to study numeracy. This course aims to develop teachers' skills, understanding and knowledge of how to make the best use of the outdoors to inspire and teach numeracy both in and out of the classroom. The course follows the strands as set out in the National Numeracy strategy.
Basic Fundraising Skills
Schools increasingly have to search for funds outside of their school budget for things such as school grounds improvements, resources for extra curricular activities etc. The aim of this course is to provide schools with the basic skills for successful fundraising and how to find suitable sources of funding. The course is designed for schools looking to carry out environmental projects, but the skills are transferable and would be of use to any school looking to fundraise.

For further information on these and other teacher training courses, please contact the centre on 0191 5364873, or e-mail us at: westboldon.4seasons@pop3.hiway.co.uk