Students at Polam School were given an extra Amazonian surprise when they returned to the classroom last week.
During lockdown, headteacher Darren O’Neil and small business owner, Charlotte of Lola’s Garden, created a brand new immersive learning space by transforming an ordinary classroom into the tropical ‘Amazonia’ filled with living plants and foliage decor.
Designed to transport the mind to faraway places, the Rainforest Room will be used extensively during the first weeks back in school to establish wellbeing and create a sense of calm and wonder.
It will be used by nursery, pre-school and school children and comes several months after Polam’s immersive learning project was launched with the introduction of Discovery, their space–themed Computing suite.
Covid-19 has put the spotlight on young people’s mental health more than ever before and with this in mind, the first week back at Polam has been focused on students’ wellbeing.
“Wellbeing is at the forefront of our minds for these young children returning to school,” said headteacher, Darren O’Neil.
“Having a unique, multipurpose space like our Rainforest room provides the perfect opportunity for this.
“Our children have been thrilled to use this space for meditation and mindfulness, imaginative storytelling and other social activities. With a focus on ‘reconnecting’, one of the five ways to wellbeing, children have come back with an energised passion for learning.”
