North Queensferry Primary School

Outdoor Learning Policy

As a school we feel it is important to enable all children to use the outside environment as a context for learning as much as possible. All staff have a shared responsibility to provide regular, authentic outdoor learning contexts and to ensure that the environment is used in a stimulating and meaningful way.

Outdoor spaces are used effectively to promote positive relationships and well-being. Staff take account of research linking benefits of outdoor learning and green space with well-being. Outdoor learning takes place both as part of discrete subject development and interdisciplinary learning where the outdoors and the wider community provide rich learning environments. Children learn and play in real settings and apply skills and make connections across subject areas in relevant contexts.

We believe that outdoor learning

· is the right of every child

· can maximise a child’s learning across the curriculum

· supports the personal and social development within each child

· should be strongly linked to education for environmental sustainability

· can provide important opportunities for the health and well-being of every child

· develops responsibility for their environment

We aim to

· to develop outdoor learning within and across our school in order that it becomes embedded within the curriculum and is sustainable for the future.

· to celebrate our outdoor spaces and the rich learning that can take place there

· to empower children and young people to take ownership of their learning, allowing their minds and bodies to thrive

· to provide a safe and secure environment that they can take risks in

· to encourage children and young people to be aware of and take care of their environment

Why does outdoor learning matter?

All learning is important whether it takes place indoors or outdoors. However, sometimes the outdoor environment can be a more effective and stimulating place to learn than inside a classroom. Frequent outdoor learning encourages children and young people to engage with their natural environment and develop their understanding of the relevance of sustainable development. There is a growing body of evidence strongly indicating that time spent in green spaces brings a host of health and well-being benefits in addition to providing opportunities for children to learn how to evaluate and manage risks. The outdoors provides excellent opportunities to use a wide range of skills and abilities not always relevant in classroom learning.

Quality learning experiences in real situations have the capacity to raise achievement across a range of subjects and develop personal and social skills. With well planned, safely managed, and personalised experiences to meet the needs of every child they can

• improve academic achievement

• develop skills and independence in a widening range of environments

• make learning more engaging and relevant

• develop active and responsible citizens of the environment

• nurture creativity

• provide opportunities for informed learning through play

• stimulate, inspire and improve motivation

• develop the ability to deal with uncertainty

• provide challenge and the opportunity to allow for managed “risk taking” to take place

• reduce behaviour problems and improve attendance