RSPB Saltholme Nature Reserve Middlesbrough

What do you offer? A lot of the people reading about you may never have heard of you before, so paint a really good picture.

Visit RSPB Saltholme for a day of hands-on outdoor learning, where we swap textbooks for binoculars and fishing nets. Surrounded by the industry of Teesside and Seal Sands, Saltholme is a haven for wildlife and the perfect destination for your next science school trip.

From water beetles to dragonflies, marsh harriers to orchids, your class will have the chance to get up close to some of the amazing wildlife that calls RSPB Saltholme home.

When your class visit Saltholme, our expert staff will bring curriculum subjects to life as we take your children on a day of discovery around our reserve. Choose activities to deepen children’s understanding of the science curriculum: identifying plants and animals; studying seasonal change, adaptations or lifecycles; classifying and grouping animals; or exploring food chains.  Spending a day with us will guarantee your class has an educational, memorable and fun connection to nature experience.

All our sessions are led by RSPB education professionals who are specialists in their field and engage children of all abilities, whilst helping you meet your learning objectives.

It’s a great opportunity to inspire your children through firsthand experiences to talk about their science and geography learning while they are fully immersed in the great outdoors.

We have curriculum linked half or full day sessions to suit children from foundation stage through to A Level. Our sessions are varied and well-paced and aim to get pupils working scientifically and using technical vocabulary in context.

We also aim to build pupils’ resilience and character through our fun and active sessions.

Each programme is designed to last two hours. Sessions run from 10am to 12pm and then 12.30 to 2.30pm. Two programmes can be combined to make a whole-day visit.

All our sessions are linked the curriculum, so your students will learn only what they need to learn on a subject. We have our own education area- the Discovery Zone- which is ours for the day and means your class can get the most from their visit without having to maneuver around other visitors!

Situated in the heart of Teesside’s industrial landscape, RSPB Saltholme offers a near unique opportunity for your class to get hands on with nature, in a classroom with no walls or ceiling. Spending a day with us the perfect way to support classroom learning by helping children connect classroom learning with the real world and showing them plants and beetles are real living things, and don’t just exist on the pages of a textbooks.

We are holders of the LOtC Quality Badge.

At RSPB Saltholme, we cater for EYFS, KS1, KS2, KS3, and A Level. We can do either full or half day visits. A full day typically lasts from 10-2.30 with half an hour for lunch. Half day visits can last from 10-12, or 12.30-2.30.

If you wish to cover a specific subject as part of your visit- climate change, adaptations etc- or if your class has any specific accessibility or SEND needs, please let us know and we shall do our best to accommodate your visit.

Most visits for primary age groups include a visit to the play area, depending on the time you wish to finish. If you would like your class to visit the shop, please let us know at the booking stage as we can then plan sufficient time into your visit to allow this.

30 to 60, for groups of up to 90 please contact us.

We use our RSPB age appropriate resources and equipment to support our curriculum linked sessions. See the session outlines on our website.

We also have a wealth of teacher resources and ideas to continue your learning journey with us. You will find more information on our website.

Schools are welcome to take photographs of their own children.

A generic risk assessment is available on the website.

Please contact our Learning Officer using the email above.

Full details of pricing can be found on our website.

Although we have a classroom, our sessions are held outdoors so we recommend students are dressed appropriately for the weather. This may be waterproof boots and raincoats, or it may be sunhats and sunblock cream.

RSPB Learning staff are first aid trained to Appointed Persons status and will carry a basic first aid kit.

At Saltholme we have:

• an indoor classroom with capacity for 60 children plus adults;
• gift shop;
• a café with takeaway service;
• a purpose built play area;
•  toilets with accessible toilet available.

Bags and belongings can be left in the classroom for the duration of your visit.

Wheelchair accessible building and toilets.

Outside learning area mostly accessible for wheelchairs with grassy and gravel paths.

School trips are offered on weekdays during term time.

“Very enthusiastic teaching, engaging and fun for all abilities”

“Staff and volunteers were brilliant with the children session was really engaging”

“The sessions were perfectly pitched at Year 1 and 2”

“An amazing day full of fun learning activities, the staff were great!”

“Enjoyable and engaging!”