CHILDREN at a Darlington school escaped the classroom and embarked on a woodlands adventure as part of an initiative to promote the importance of outdoor learning.

Independent day school Polam Hall held a special event in its grounds for young children to experience the thrill of learning about nature through a range of fun activities.

The woodlands adventure, for three to five-year-olds and their parents, enjoyed making stickmen, mud pies, planting pea seeds in compost, building dens and making bark rubbing pictures.

As well as helping children from an early age learn to appreciate the environment around them, the event also formed part of Polam Hall's efforts to ensure its reception pupils are integrated smoothly into day-to-day school life.

Polam Hall will hold another fun day on the morning of June 15. The event forms part of a school open day which will give parents the opportunity to find out how their children could benefit from attending the award-winning school.