SUSTAINABILITY, NATURE and the OUTDOORS
at The Winterton Federation
The Winterton Federation is committed to empowering pupils to be advocates and agents of change for a more sustainable world by providing education on climate change and equipping them with the skills to make positive environmental decisions. Winterton’s climate action plan focusses on four key areas: Food and Waste, Adaptation and Resilience, Biodiversity, Climate Change Education and culture, Transport and Decarbonisation. Key initiatives include:
- Embedding climate change education (CCE) into the curriculum and developing positive self-regulation strategies to manage eco-anxiety.
- Enhancing sustainability efforts through improved waste management (food waste, plastics) and the “reduce, reuse, recycle” strategy.
- Reducing energy usage by installing LED lightbulbs, solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, and electric minibuses to lower the carbon footprint.
- Promoting biodiversity by creating habitats, improving air and water quality, and implementing rainwater harvesting.
- Revising procurement policies to ensure sustainability in purchasing.
These efforts aim to nurture a more sustainable community and prepare students to tackle environmental challenges. We are working with the following organisations:
At The Winterton Federation, we complete our residential experience at the beginning of the academic year to allow the teachers and pupils to truly bond and recognise everyone’s strengths. Residential trips are a hugely valuable part of the primary school experience, offering children opportunities for growth that extends far beyond the classroom. Spending time away from home helps pupils develop independence, resilience and self-confidence as they learn to manage new routines and responsibilities. Residential experiences often include team-building and outdoor activities that encourage cooperation, problem-solving and perseverance, strengthening friendships and fostering a strong sense of belonging. They also provide memorable, hands-on learning opportunities that enrich the curriculum and promote personal development. For many children, a residential trip is a milestone moment — building character, broadening horizons and creating lasting memories that contribute significantly to their confidence and readiness for the next stage of education.
Our staff are currently undertaking training to become qualified Forest School practitioners, which will soon become an established and valued part of our enrichment offer across the federation. Forest School activities provide children with regular opportunities to learn outdoors in a natural environment, supporting both their personal development and wellbeing. Through hands-on experiences such as den building, tool use, nature exploration and problem-solving challenges, pupils develop resilience, independence and confidence. Forest School also nurtures curiosity, creativity and teamwork, while fostering a deep respect for the natural world. By embedding this approach into our curriculum, we are ensuring that all children benefit from meaningful outdoor learning experiences that strengthen character, enhance engagement and support holistic development.
Stewardship is an important thread that runs throughout our primary curriculum and reflects our commitment to developing responsible, caring and thoughtful young people. We encourage children to understand that they have a shared responsibility to care for the world around them — including the environment, their community and one another. Through subjects such as science, geography, RE, PSHE and outdoor learning, pupils explore themes of sustainability, conservation, compassion and global citizenship. Children learn about protecting habitats, reducing waste, respecting natural resources and making positive choices that support the wellbeing of people and the planet. Stewardship is also embedded in the wider life of the school through activities such as gardening, recycling initiatives, eco-projects and caring for shared spaces. By nurturing a sense of responsibility and empowerment, we help pupils develop the knowledge, values and skills needed to become active stewards of their local and global communities.
Good luck to our Year 6’s on their next adventure to secondary school. You’ve made us all extremely proud and have been a credit to the Federation!
We will miss you all 🎓🌈 ... See MoreSee Less
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A touch of awe and wonder in Reception as our caterpillars have finally made their appearance from their chrysalises and have taken their first flight across Reception playground 😊 #spirituality #Wow #nature #reception ... See MoreSee Less
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From our smallest child to our biggest child , everyone has been out litter picking to improve our school environment and our local community . So proud of all our children - Simon’s Wood is looking good Year 6 and well done to Year 3 for their hard work this morning #sustainability ... See MoreSee Less
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