DINOSAURS came to life for youngsters at Wyke Regis Infant School with a hands-on experience of the Jurassic Coast.

The National Trust’s Big Jurassic Classroom dropped in to the Shrubbery Lane school to teach reception pupils about the World Heritage Site on their doorstep.

Caroline Richard, National Trust outdoor experience manager, said: “The Jurassic Classroom project is a partnership between World Heritage and National Trust.

“We’re trying to get to every school in Dorset and East Devon and get the children learning about our fabulous coastline.

“It’s a really fun way to learn about it because a lot of the kids don’t go out to the coast.

“These sessions will hopefully give teachers and parents the confidence to explore the coast and realise it’s a fabulous place to be.”

She added: “The children always love the fossil handling collection – in a way it’s a living lesson and really brings the topic alive for them.

“We work with children of all ages and tailor each session to the group.

“We also teach the children about the Olympic values of friendship, courage and diversity in the run-up to the Games.”

The project is designed to celebrate the 2012 Games and teach children about how the World Heritage Site relates to the values of the Olympics.

Class Five pupils had a go at digging for fossils, examining real specimens and painting and drawing their favourite fossils.

Lisa Spracklen, 23, reception teacher, said: “Our topic for this term is dinosaurs and the children love it.

“We’re also looking at fossils and the Jurassic Coast in the run up to the Olympics to get the children learning about the history of our county.

“Dinosaurs are their favourite topic and we are top-heavy in boys in this class so it’s a good one to get them interested.”

She added: “We went to Dorset County Museum the other day and they saw the big dinosaur head, which they loved.

“Today has been really interactive and hands-on, which the children like.

“We’ve been doing lots of role-play with the dinosaurs and the fossils, it’s such a fun way for them to learn.”

School profile

Wyke Regis Infant School opened in 1951 and has around 300 pupils between the ages of three to seven.

The attached nursery unit, which takes 26 children, is one of only five maintained nurseries in Dorset.

An ‘outstanding’ certificate has pride of place on the wall of reception following the school’s overall outstanding Ofsted inspection in September, 2007.

Inspectors said the Shrubbery Lane school helped pupils to develop outstandingly and that their behaviour was exemplary.

The school has also held an Investor in People accreditation since 2003.