New primary will give children a lesson in nature

The ribbon has been cut on a new forest school in Leicestershire

A new primary school dedicated to making the outdoors its classroom has opened on a new estate being built in Leicestershire.

Greenstone Primary School, on the 2,700-home South East Coalville development on land between Bardon Hill, Ellistown and Hugglescote, is the first purpose-built forest school in the county.

Alongside teaching the traditional curriculum, the school's 420 students will spend about 40% of their time outside using a Scandinavian idea which promotes learning through contact with nature.

It's an approach head of school Natalie Yeomans said fosters independence and builds "children who are willing to take more risks" and "take ownership over their learning".

Greenstone, named for the layer of granite which sits on top of the coal seams in the area, has been built by developer Harworth using timber panels, low-carbon materials and solar panels.

Managing director David Cockcroft said it will be "an incredible place for children to develop and explore critical skills" while "improving access to the natural world".

The school's design embraces the outdoors

It will be run by Lionheart Educational Trust, which oversees 17 schools in the East Midlands including nearby Castle Rock, Newbridge and Broom Leys.

So far, only the reception-aged Acorns Class has enrolled, which gave a performance of Michael Rosen's We're Going On A Bear Hunt ahead of the ribbon-cutting and a teddy bears' picnic.

Ms Yeomans said: "It's been brilliant, we've had a class of 28 children and they love the learning environment.

"They love being outdoors, we've got such a breathtaking school for them to learn in thanks to Harworth and they've settled in really well."