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Educational Visits The Yateley Common Rangers provide a quality low-cost outdoor education service to many local schools, with over a thousand children being taught about the Common and its wildlife each year. We aim to make the activities an enjoyable experience for all, with the emphasis on National Curriculum learning through first-hand experience and discovery. It is hoped that the activities will help to foster a greater degree of understanding and appreciation for our local environment and its wildlife.

Although we always encourage schools to come out to Yateley Common to experience nature and the local environment first-hand, many of our activities can also be carried out in school grounds and we are willing to consider travelling to schools if it is not possible to come out to us.

Our activities are flexible and a tailored programme of activities can be organised to suit your needs. For further information or to book telephone 01252 870 425.

Primary Schools Programme

All our activities are designed to meet National Curriculum requirements. They are listed by National Curriculum subject areas and below each activity the key stage topic areas each relates to are given. Activities can be booked alone or in combination for a more comprehensive package. We are always open to suggestions about new activities to meet your curriculum requirements. Please Download a copy of the schools pack.

Secondary Schools/Further Education

This can be tailored to individual groups needs in order to fullfil national curriculum or other requirements. Please phone to discuss.

Groups and Individuals

In addition to this formal education, we also offer “just for fun” activities such as pond-dipping, bug-hunting, orienteering, shelter-building and guided bat walks, aimed at various after-school groups from Rainbows/Cubs to Guides/Scouts.

Illustrated talks about the Common may also given to any groups that request them.

Self-Led Sessions

For all self-led sessions, we still require a pre-visit with a member of staff at the site to cover health and safety issues and finalise arrangements.

If you have a specific date that you require, please give us as much notice as possible so that we can try and accommodate.

In order to ensure that we can continue to deliver high quality outdoor sessions and cover increasing costs of materials, there is a small charge for visits.

We have tried to make this as simple as possible, whilst still retaining a flexible charging system that accommodates for the different requirements of each group. A minimum charge per session applies

•  
  Ranger-led Sessions
  Unled/self-guided (includes use of available equipment)
  
• 1
  £1.75 per child (min. charge £25)
  £20
  
• 2+
  £1 per child (min. charge £20)
  £15
  
• 4+
  £1 per child (min. charge £15)
  £15
  

Catering for all ages and abilities
All of our activities are designed to meet National Curriculum requirements. They are listed by National Curriculum subject areas and below each activity the key stage topic areas each relates to are given. Activities can be booked alone or in combination for a more comprehensive package.

Where appropriate, we will provide worksheets to assist you with follow-up activities and to consolidate and extend learning back in the classroom. You can book a session lasting anywhere between one hour and half a day. All sessions can be tailored as necessary and we are happy to help you to decide on custom built programmes to best cover your needs.

For younger children (Years 1 and 2), we have many simple, fun and stimulating games and activities focusing on senses and exploration, which encourage learning while capturing the children’s imaginations.

For older children (Years 3, 4, 5 and 6), we can focus on covering more curriculum-based skills in a natural environment where children are free to explore and learn at their own pace.

We try to be as inclusive as possible in ensuring that everyone who wishes to take part in our activities can get maximum benefit, and we will always endeavour to adapt our activities in order to cater for any special requirements.

However, in order to plan for this we do request that any relevant information is clearly communicated to us prior to the event (i.e. on booking form and during pre-visit).

Teachers' Responsibilities

1. Rangers will act as guides and interpreters, but responsibility for safety and discipline remains with the teacher. It is also the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that the activities planned are safe and appropriate for the group.
2. The teacher should ensure that the ranger is aware of any children with any relevant special physical or medical requirements.
3. Although most equipment is provided by the rangers, the school should provide basic equipment such as paper and pencils if needed (advance warning will be given).
4. The teacher should be prepared to help to interpret the activities appropriately for the children.

Hampshire County Council Education Department has published the Open Country Activities Regulations (MCC Education “Off Site Activities” 1990; HCC Education “Safety in Hazardous Pursuits” 1990). It is the head teacher’s responsibility to ensure that these regulations are adhered to

1. The pupil:adult ratio must not exeed 12:1 (this does not include rangers)
2. Although all our rangers are first-aid trained, it is the teacher’s responsibility to carry a first-aid kit.
3. Children must wear suitable footwear and clothing.
4. The group leader must be familiar with the site. This can take place during the pre-visit, which we will be glad to arrange should you choose to book a session.