Day Visits

It is important to us at Greatworth Hall that the learning done on the farm compliments the learning in school. We understand that teachers have a lot to achieve each year and we want the farm visit to be part of that rather than produce additional work for teachers. Therefore, the activities we run link strongly to the national curriculum and are always a starting point for more learning in school.

A typical farm visit includes the following:

• Lessons planned by a qualified teacher with learning objectives and success criteria linked to the national curriculum

• Strong links to learning in school, including mathematics, English or science work.

• Up to four hands on activities planned and delivered throughout the day

• Suggestions for preparation and follow-up work

• The opportunity for children take something home with them at the end of the day, such as food they have prepared or cooked, artwork, or a plant in a home-made plant pot.

A one-off day visit is a good way of experiencing what we offer and can be particularly appealing if farming is a topic you are covering in school. The day generally lasts between 9.30a.m and 3.00p.m, but timings can be negotiated and altered to fit in with your transport.

Our Partner Farm

We are passionate about children truly understanding seasonality at Greatworth Hall Farm Education Centre. For this reason we have established a partnership with schools through which children can interact with the changing seasons over the year. It is a great way to link curriculum subjects with outdoor learning, seasonal change, and fun learning activities year round.

Our Partner Farm Scheme provides schools with the following, in addition to the provision for day visits: 

• 4 visits to the farm in an academic year (suggested 1 per season)

• Follow a field - learn the process of seed to harvest

• Track a tree - observe seasonal changes in nature

• Adopt a sheep - follow a sheep through its yearly cycle

The scheme has been designed to foster a close relationship with schools and children. When schools partner with us, children have a greater sense of ownership and belonging each time they visit the farm.  

It is the school's decision how they use the Our Partner Farm Scheme so that it works for them. Some choose for one year group to connect with us, others involve the whole school, or a whole key stage. 

Typically the Partner Farm visits are a mixture of outdoor learning and specific farm focussed learning. It is the school's decision what they would like to focus on and what activities will be offered.

We have seen the value in putting learning into real life contexts. Our aim on the farm is not to teach children how to be farmers but rather to enthuse their learning and help them to recognise the value and place of their curriculum subjects in real life.
We want to create memorable and enjoyable learning experiences for all children irrespective of their background and academic ability.  We believe that all children have the right to the same opportunities and recognise that those who grow up in the countryside, engaging with the changing seasons and rural life, have advantages that others may not. Learning outside of school and in the countryside offers the huge benefit of seeing science, maths, geography and other curriculum areas in action. We feel it is important that all children have the opportunity to experience this.

The Team