A School With Its Own Woodland...
Children need space to move, imagine, talk, build and explore.
Our outdoor spaces are used every day.
From Forest School and woodland reading sessions to imaginative play and outdoor investigation, children experience learning that extends far beyond the classroom.
Outdoor learning is not an occasional treat at Springfield.
It is part of who we are.
Come and see it in action.
Book a visit today.
#SpringfieldPrimary
#HackneySchools
#ForestSchool
#OutdoorLearning
#NurseryPlaces
From garden to kitchen! 🍓🍫
Year 1 spent the day at Hackney School of Food, taking part in a hands-on workshop inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The children explored the gardens, learned about where ingredients come from and then became chefs for the day. They discovered how to melt chocolate using a bain-marie, prepared fresh fruit and created their own delicious chocolate-dipped fruit skewers.
Experiences like these help children make meaningful connections between books, food, science and the wider world. Along the way they developed teamwork, independence and confidence, as well as learning new skills in the kitchen.
Judging by the smiles (and the chocolate-covered faces!), the trip was a great success.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #LoveOfLearning #PrimarySchoolLife #HealthyEating
How often do children get the chance to hold a frame covered in live bees?
Year 4 spent the day exploring life on a working farm, learning about food production, animal care and the role insects play in our environment.
From feeding goats and chickens to meeting cattle, handling wool and taking part in a beekeeping workshop, children experienced first-hand where many everyday products come from and how living things depend on one another.
These experiences help bring classroom learning to life. They spark curiosity, build confidence and give children a deeper understanding of the natural world.
Sometimes the most memorable learning happens when children step outside the classroom.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #OutdoorLearning #LoveOfLearning #beekeeping
The concept of history is a hard one to grasp for young children. At Springfield we start with our children’s own life history. Some beautiful writing from Reception here, inspired by photos they brought in of them as babies.
#hackneyschools #historyeducation #eyfs #earlywriting #history
How long is a classroom table?
How tall is a window?
How wide is a display board?
Year 2 have been exploring measurement by becoming mathematical investigators.
Armed with metre sticks and rulers, children worked together to estimate, measure and compare objects around the classroom. Along the way, they discussed how to measure accurately, checked one another`s thinking and discovered that mathematics helps us make sense of the world around us.
Learning becomes much more meaningful when children can move, explore and test ideas for themselves.
There was plenty of careful measuring, problem-solving and teamwork on display as our young mathematicians put their skills into practice.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #LoveOfLearning #PrimarySchoolLife #HappyChildrenLearn
Many schools talk about outdoor learning.
At Springfield, children learn, play and explore in a woodland setting right in the middle of Hackney.
We`re a small school with an Outstanding judgement, excellent outcomes and a strong sense of community. Yet many local families don`t know we`re here.
That`s why parents often describe Springfield as Hackney`s hidden gem.
If you`re looking for a school where children are known, valued and encouraged to thrive, we`d love to show you around.
Book a visit and discover Springfield for yourself.
#SpringfieldPrimary
#HackneySchools
#StamfordHill
#OutdoorLearning
#NurseryPlaces
What happens when children are given the confidence to use their voice?
This week, Springfield pupils attended TfL`s Inspiring Success Celebration, joining a small group of schools from across London recognised for their contribution to active, safe and responsible travel.
As part of the event, our children took part in a public speaking workshop, developed their ideas about road safety and spoke about how young people can help make their communities safer and healthier places to live.
The day was about much more than travel. It was about leadership, communication and learning that children can make a difference.
We were incredibly proud to see Springfield pupils representing our school with such confidence, thoughtfulness and enthusiasm.
Congratulations to everyone involved in earning this recognition.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #LoveOfLearning #HappyChildrenLearn
History is not just about remembering dates.
It is about understanding how people, events and decisions connect across time.
Year 4 have just begun their Tudor history unit by exploring the Tudor monarchs and building a timeline of the dynasty. As they worked, children compared reigns, discussed succession and began to piece together the story of a period that shaped England for generations.
By physically constructing the timeline themselves, children could see patterns, ask questions and make connections that are much harder to spot when dates are simply written on a page.
At Springfield, we want children to think like historians: curious, analytical and able to place events within a wider story.
Because understanding the past starts with understanding how it fits together.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #LoveOfLearning #PrimarySchoolLife
Fractions are about much more than finding the right answer.
In Year 4, children have been exploring a big mathematical idea: equal parts don`t have to look the same.
Using paper shapes, they worked collaboratively to build identical squares in different ways. As they experimented, discussed and refined their thinking, they discovered that although the pieces were different shapes, they could still represent equal parts of the same whole.
This kind of hands-on learning helps children move beyond memorising procedures and develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts.
At Springfield, we want children to explain, reason and make connections, not just calculate.
Concrete representations = deep conceptual understanding.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #LoveOfLearning #PrimarySchoolLife #HiddenGemSchool
There is something special about food you`ve made yourself.
Recently, Year 2 became chefs for the afternoon. Before making their wraps, they designed their own healthy meal and thought carefully about the ingredients they wanted to include.
Then came the practical challenge.
Children washed vegetables, practised safe cutting techniques, prepared ingredients and assembled their own wraps from a colourful selection of fresh foods.
Along the way, they learned far more than how to make lunch.
They developed independence, practised fine motor skills, made decisions about healthy eating and discovered that trying something new can be much easier when you`ve helped to prepare it yourself.
One of the best moments was seeing children proudly sharing their creations with friends and explaining why they had chosen particular ingredients.
Learning is often at its most memorable when children can see, touch, create and taste the results for themselves.
And judging by the empty plates, the wraps were a success too!
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #LoveOfLearning #PrimarySchoolLife #HappyChildrenLearn
Rain doesn’t stop play at Springfield.
In fact, sometimes it makes play even better.
Today brought puddles, reflections, raindrops and plenty of opportunities to explore the world a little differently.
At Springfield, we want children to spend time outdoors in every season. We know that running, building, climbing, noticing, investigating and imagining are all important parts of childhood.
That’s why we’ve invested in a full class set of waterproof jackets and dungarees for our Nursery children this year. It means that a rainy forecast doesn’t mean staying indoors. It means putting on the right clothing and heading outside.
Children learn a great deal from experiences that cannot be recreated in a classroom. The sound of rain on a hood. The patterns made by raindrops in a puddle. The excitement of discovering how the playground changes when the weather changes.
We want our children to develop confidence, resilience, curiosity and a connection to the natural world.
Sometimes that starts with something as simple as a puddle.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #OutdoorLearning #HappyChildrenLearn #forestschool
"I disagree."
Two words that can cause problems almost anywhere...
Unless you`re in Year 2.
This week, our Year 2 children put The Highway Rat on trial. Half the class became the prosecution. Half became the defence. Their task was simple: decide whether the Highway Rat was guilty and what should happen next.
What followed was thoughtful, funny and surprisingly sophisticated.
Children listened carefully to one another, built on ideas, challenged arguments respectfully and searched the text for evidence to support their thinking. Some argued that the Highway Rat deserved punishment. Others believed he should be given a second chance.
Nobody was allowed to win simply by speaking the loudest.
Instead, children learned how to listen, explain, question and justify their views.
At Springfield, we want children to become confident readers and writers. We also want them to become confident thinkers. That means creating classrooms where discussion matters and where children learn that changing your mind, considering another perspective and disagreeing respectfully are all important parts of learning.
The best part?
By the end of the lesson, several children had completely changed their position after hearing the arguments of their classmates.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #LoveOfLearning #ReadingForPleasure #HappyChildrenLearn
What is it?
We’re not entirely sure.
A vehicle? A machine? A boat? A base? Part of a much bigger story?
What matters is that the children knew.
Given time, loose parts and the freedom to think together, they created something with purpose. They negotiated roles, tested ideas, solved problems, adapted their plans and built a shared narrative that made sense to them.
This is one of the reasons we value play so highly at Springfield. Adults can teach many things, but there are aspects of collaboration, creativity and imagination that emerge most powerfully when children are trusted to lead.
Sometimes the richest learning doesn’t start with instructions. It starts with a pile of resources, a group of children and a simple question:
“What could this become?”
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #learningthroughplay #loosepartsplay #OutdoorLearning
Year 1 have been exploring colour, texture and creativity outdoors, inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy.
Using beetroot, blackberries, avocado and natural materials collected from our forest area, children experimented with making their own natural dyes and marks on fabric. Alongside developing artistic techniques, the activity encouraged careful observation, collaboration and curiosity about the natural world around them.
At Springfield, outdoor learning is not an “extra”. It is part of how children think, create, communicate and learn together. 🌿
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #OutdoorLearning #LoveOfLearning #PrimarySchoolLife
Year 4 spent part of this week exploring London’s “Wild City” with the brilliant team at EcoActive. 🌿
Children discovered that London is home to one of the world’s largest urban forests and explored what biodiversity means in a city like ours. Across the day, they investigated minibeast habitats, searched for wildlife, created seed balls for wildflowers and took to the water in canoes to experience the local environment from a completely different perspective.
This is the kind of learning that stays with children. It builds curiosity, teamwork, confidence and a deeper understanding of the world around them. From carefully observing insects and habitats to paddling together on the water, children were learning through direct experience: asking questions, solving problems and noticing things they might otherwise miss.
Outdoor learning at Springfield is not an “extra”. It is a vital part of how we help children become thoughtful, capable and connected learners.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #OutdoorLearning #LoveOfLearning #HappyChildrenLearn
🐷🐣 Farm adventures for our Reception explorers!
Our Reception class had an amazing day at @hackneycityfarm this week, learning all about animals and their life cycles. The highlight? Meeting the adorable new piglets, chicks, kids and lambs!
From observing baby animals to understanding how they grow, our children experienced hands-on learning that brings their classroom topics to life. These real-world connections help our youngest learners understand the natural world around them.
At Springfield, we believe learning happens everywhere – in the classroom, in our forest, and out in our wonderful Hackney community. 🌳✨
#HackneySchools #OutdoorLearning #ForestSchool #HiddenGem #ThrivingChildren
Meet Springfield’s new Play Team.
These children have been chosen to help shape play at Springfield. They will gather ideas from other pupils, notice what is working well, and work with Mr Sloan to keep improving play across the school.
Over 60 children applied, and their applications were full of thoughtful ideas, care for others and real leadership potential.
At Springfield, we know that play matters. It builds confidence, friendship, creativity and independence, and helps children learn how to share, negotiate and include others well.
We’re excited to see where the Play Team takes us next.
#SpringfieldPrimary #HackneySchools #HappyChildrenLearn #OutdoorLearning #learningrhroughplay