Opening Times

The centre is open to the public Tuesdays to Sundays all year round.

School sessions can take place in the centre Tuesdays to Fridays, between 09:30 – 15:30.

What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

The borough’s Nature Conservation Ranger Team has been providing outdoor school themed education for well over 10 years, as well as visiting schools within the borough. The James Leal Centre and our other sites, Claybury Park and Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve, offer a structured and safe learning environment for school children, with staff that are experienced, know the areas inside out and are well resourced with materials, equipment and props to make your school trip one that your class will remember for a long while.

The James Leal Centre, in particular, is easily accessible by public transport (15 minute walk from Woodford central line station, bus 275 stopping immediately opposite the park gates) and by road. Not only that, due to its location your class can experience a contrast of different habitats from formal park to river to country park, all within walking distance. The play areas and outdoor gym facility, called the ‘AdiZone’, adjacent to the centre, also make lunchtimes fun for the kids, as well as opening up the possibility of a PE/games session for part of your stay here. The centre’s on site café also means that food and drink is available throughout the day, including the option of pre-booking catering for your visit.

Claybury Park and Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve are excellent examples of ancient woodland, both with a magical feel and magnificent veteran trees. Both sites have educational packs we can work towards, in particular Claybury Parks story book is a great way of combining stories with the outdoors. A free copy of ‘Tales of Claybury Woods’ is available to all schools who book a class session at Claybury Park.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

All trips can be tailored to the needs of the visiting class, within our capacity. Both visits to our sites Claybury Park and Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve are very flexible and can easily tie in with your objectives

The Ranger Pack resources, at the James Leal Centre, are separated into five separate themes. One theme will be enough for one class session of approximately 1hr 30min (either morning or afternoon). Maximum of two sessions per day can be achieved, taking in travel time and lunch breaks. The selection of the theme for each class must be done prior to the visit during booking:

After the Storm

Learning objectives
This activity starts with the idea that all living things have needs that are met from their surroundings (habitats). One of these needs is appropriate shelter.
Pupils will learn:
• To identify different types of habitat and that different animals are found in different habitats.
• To predict which animals will be found in a particular habitat.
• To observe and describe conditions in a local habitat and discuss the animals which are found there.
• To treat animals and the environment with care and sensitivity and understand that they can help wild animals by using thoughtful and responsible behaviour.

Resources
• Book – ‘After the Storm’ by Nick Butterworth.
• Wise Owl’s questions.
• Animal puppets.
• Whose Habitat? Photo trail.
• Bug and habitat hunting kit, including binoculars, magnifying glasses and ID chart.

National Curriculum Links:
EYFS: PSED (DA, SD & ED), CLL (LCT), KUW, PD and CD
English: AT1. Science AT1, AT2. Citizenship: Animals and us (QCA unit 3)
NC 2011 Areas of Learning: STU 1b,1d, 2a, 2b, 2d, 3b, 3c, 4a2, 4b4,5 E2, 5E11 & 5 E12.
UECL 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2e, 3b, 3c, 4a1, 4a2, 4a3, 5E1, 5E2, 5E6 & 5E7.

Tree Explorer

Learning objectives
This activity encourages a detailed study of the trees found in Ray Park.
Pupils will learn:
• To describe and identify the characteristics of a tree.
• To observe and describe the conditions of a habitat and discuss the wide range of animals that can be found near or on a tree.
• To measure the age of a tree.
• To treat animals and the environment with care and sensitivity and understand that they can help wild animals by using thoughtful and responsible behaviour.

Resources
• Find the Tree game
• Tree ID sheet/book
• Ranger information cards
• Bug collection/observation equipment e.g. white sheet, magnifiers, soft paintbrushes and bug dials
• Tree explorer equipment

National Curriculum Links:
English: AT1. Science AT1, AT2. Mathematics Ma3, Citizenship: Animals and us (QCA unit 3).
NC 2011 Areas of Learning: STU 1b, 1d, 2a, 2b, 2d, 4a2, 4b1, 4b2, 4b4, 5M1, 5M2, 5M4 & 5L2
UECL 1a, 2c, 2e, 4a1, 5M1, 5M3, 5M6, 5M7, 5L3, 5L6 & 5L7

Meadows and Mini-beasts

Learning objectives
This activity encourages pupils to explore the characteristics and features of living things and their environments.
Pupils will learn:
• About the wide variety of plant and animal life found in a meadow habitat.
• To observe and describe conditions in a local habitat and discuss the plants and animals which are found there.
• To treat animals and the environment with care and sensitivity and understand that they can help wild animals by using thoughtful and responsible behaviour.
• To use keys to identify a wide range of plants and animals.
• To question, observe, predict and draw conclusions from their observations.

Resources
• Habitat survey kit
• Mini-eye kit
• Natures artist palette
• Ranger record sheets
• Bug collection/observation equipment

National Curriculum Links:
English: AT1. Science AT1, AT2. Citizenship: Animals and us (QCA unit 3)
NC 2011 Areas of Learning: STU 1b, 1d, 2a, 2b, 2d, 4a2, 4b1, 4b2, 4b4, 5M1, 5M2, 5M4 & 5L2
UECL 1a, 2c, 2e, 4a1, 5M1, 5M3, 5M6, 5M7, 5L3, 5L6 & 5L7

River Ramble

Learning objectives
This activity encourages pupils to use maps and investigate the River Roding and the wetlands that form an important feature of the Roding Valley Park.
Pupils will learn:
• To undertake fieldwork.
• To read and make plans and maps.
• That rivers erode, transport and deposit materials producing particular landscape features.
• To recognise how people seek to improve and sustain environments.

Resources
• Rivers in focus information and questions
• Art materials
• Opportunities for photography if school wishes to bring camera

National Curriculum Links:
Geography KS2 Unit 14 Investigating Rivers, English AT1
NC2011 Areas of Learning: HGSU 1b, 2a, 2c, 3b, 4a1, 4c1, 4c2, 5M1, 5M2 & 5L2. STU 1b, 2d, 4a2 & 5M1. UECL 1a, 2c, 2e, 4a1, 5M1, 5M3, 5M6, 5M7, 5L3, 5L6 & 5L7
River Ramble is presented here as a KS2 activity, but can be adapted for all key stages.

Science Zone (indoor activities)
The Science Zone provides an interactive learning space for pupils to investigate the key themes of the centre, including habitats, life cycles, adaptation, mini-beasts and plants.
Pupils will learn:
• To understand how animals are suited to their environments.
• To use keys to identify a range of animals.
• About plants and seeds and what they need to grow
• To observe and describe conditions in a habitat and discuss the plants and animals which are found there.
• To treat animals with care and sensitivity and understand that we can help animals by using thoughtful and responsible behaviour.
• To gain experience in questioning, observing, predicting and drawing conclusions from their observations.

What are the activities?

Activity 1: Mini-beast Small World Play
Pupils will explore the Mini-Beast Small World to discover all the different toy animals hiding in the habitat. The Small World Area uses natural materials such as logs, stones, mud and bark chippings to encourage play, exploration and investigation. This activity is supported with activity cards for the adult helper, to encourage both free play activities, where children explore independently, and adult directed activities, with specific tasks for the children to undertake.
Activity 2: Animal Tanks
The Centre has 3 animal tanks that house a range of animals including tree frogs, stick insects and hissing cockroaches. Pupils are encouraged to take a closer look at the animals and study living conditions, movement, feeding and body parts. The activity includes key question prompts and the opportunity to make an annotated drawing of an animal.
Activity 3: Mini-beast Handling Session (lasts 30 min and counts as 2 activities)
A question and answer session led by a Conservation Ranger with the opportunity to observe and touch the Centre’s animals (subject to availability).
Activity 4: Microscope Activity
From spiders’ webs to pond water samples, pupils will be given the opportunity to use the Centre’s video microscope to study a wide range of natural materials found in the park.
Activity 5: Make your Mark
Using a selection of leaves, logs and other natural materials that have been gathered from the park, pupils will be encouraged to make a picture to explore all the different shapes, marks and patterns that can be created.
Activity 6: Going Potty
Pupils will discuss what a seed needs to grow, before making a newspaper planter and planting a seed to take back to school.
Activity 7: Exploring Keys
This activity introduces the idea that living things can be sorted into groups based on their common features. Exploring Keys provides the opportunity to use a range of keys to help identify individual mini-beasts and create a bug ID dial to take home.
Activity 8: Build a bug
Using photographs and life cycle diagrams, pupils are encouraged to work in pairs to create a range of imaginary or real living things including a tadpole, frog, 2D caterpillar, 3D caterpillar, butterfly, moth, egg or flower.

National Curriculum Links:
EYFS: PSED (DA, SD & ED), CLL (LCT), KUW, PD and CD
English: AT1. Science AT1, AT2. Citizenship: Animals and us (QCA unit 3)
NC 2011 Areas of Learning: STU 1b, 1d, 2a, 2b, 2d, 4a2, 4b1, 4b2, 4b4, 5M1, 5M2, 5M4 & 5L2
UECL 1a, 2c, 2e, 4a1, 5M1, 5M3, 5M6, 5M7, 5L3, 5L6 & 5L7

What is the age range of the activities?

5 to 13 years

What materials to you provide or suggest groups bring to support the visit?

All learning cards, equipment and materials. Students should bring a note book and pen.

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

The centre can only accommodate one class (30 children approximately) at a time. Visits to our other parks and open spaces, such as Claybury Park, are also one class (30 children approximately) per Ranger. A maximum of 2 rangers are available at any one time.

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

Please call the rangers to arrange a pre-visit for risk assessment purposes. We expect all visiting schools to prepare a specific risk assessment for their trip, taking into account the needs of their individual pupils. Your schools EVC (educational visits coordinator) should be able to provide you with more information relating to this.

Do you offer Teacher familiarisation days?

No, but willing to consider, so please get in touch.

What facilities are there for school groups for food and drink, shop etc?

The James Leal Centre has a café which is open all year round providing hot and cold food and drinks, including ice creams during warmer months. The café has the capability to cater for your trip, with menus available for school lunches. Please remember to mention this during booking so we can put you in touch with the café direct, who will be able to work on your budget.

Packed lunches can be eaten in the centre classroom only, holding a maximum of one class. More space is available outside the centre in the picnic areas found in the play area

The centre also has two interactive kiosks schools can use, animal tanks and an exhibition about the centre and the local area’s natural and cultural history.

The park also has a:

• Large natural play area with a range of play equipment for all ages and abilities.
• AdiZone or Outdoor Gym, with a large range of outdoor gym equipment, climbing wall, basketball & five a side football area.
• Basketball courts
• Tennis Courts
• Access to the River Roding at the back of the park

Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve is adjacent to the new Redbridge Cycle Centre, a state of the art cycling facility with tracks for off road and road cycling, BMX and stunt jumping. Part of the London 2012 legacy. Bicycle hire and changing facilities are available, including toilets, snack machines and large car park. Please let us know if you would like to know more.

Is specific clothing required?

We recommend that all children and adults are dressed appropriately for the weather, as our sessions will be outdoors. Good footwear is recommended and we advise against sandals or flip flops.

Do you have first aid on site?

All our rangers are first aid at work trained and briefed on how to react in an emergency. However the visiting school must provide a first aider who can deal with the specific requirements of its class pupils (e.g. medication or special needs care).

Are there any restrictions on photos, copyright etc?

We welcome schools to bring cameras to record their school trip, in accordance with their policy on photographs and the wishes of members of the public using the centre and park.
Images can be downloaded onto a memory stick from the digital microscopes, for projects or as a momento.
Vision Redbridge Culture & Leisure cannot take any responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged equipment during trips to its sites.

Additional information.

Coach parking must be agreed in advance during booking for the James Leal Centre and Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve, due to limited space and access. Claybury Park only has street parking available.

No private vehicles are permitted into Ray Park towards the James Leal Centre, unless agreed during booking. Unauthorised vehicles caught parked inside the park or opposite the centre may be subject to fines.

We recommend visitors to our sites use public transport if possible.

For more information on what we have to offer please visit http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/the_environment/nature_conservation/the_outdoor_classroom.aspx

If you would like to make the most of your schools visit to Redbridge, please have a look at what our colleagues at Redbridge Museum and newly restored Valentines Mansion, have to offer for schools:
http://www.redbridge.gov.uk/cms/the_environment/nature_conservation/the_outdoor_classroom.aspx