Here’s the link to the recent TESS article on Thornlie Primary school, and the impact of their natural play work on key areas of school life.
http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6133983
Monthly Archives: December 2011
Nature play and accidents in schools
The link to the other report I mentioned a the recent national network day. More adventurous and risky nature play REDUCES accidents in a Glasgow school. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Naturalplaycentralscotland.pdf/$FILE/Naturalplaycentralscotland.pdf
Nature play, attainment and attendance
Here’s the link to the recent TESS article, which describes one of the most interesting school playgrounds in Scotland – and its impact on some very signficant issues. http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6133983
New Health and Safety Executive Education Website
HSE have launched their new and improved Education web pages which can be found on HSE’s main website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/index.htm
This microsite has been updated as part of HSE’s on-going project to rationalise and update their guidance material. As well as revising existing pages they have also added several new sections for example Health and Safety checklist for classrooms. You’ll also find the High Level Statement on tackling the myths about health and safety law being a barrier to school trips and outdoor learning activities, including case studies about school trips.
Another new feature which has been added to the web pages is an e-Bulletin where interested parties can sign up to receive automatic notification via e-mail of any updates to the Education web pages, thereby helping users to keep up -to-date on key additions to online guidance. If you are interested in subscribing to the e-Bulletin, please follow the instructions in the following link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/services/education/subscribe.htm.
Regional Events for Head Teachers and Deputes
We will be looking at whole school approaches to outdoor learning through our Building Your Curriculum Outside and In regional events for head teachers and deputes. These events will take place:
Glasgow: Thistle Hotel Tuesday 17th January 2012
Aberdeen: Aberdeen Football Club Tuesday 24th January 2012
Edinburgh: Thistle Hotel Wednesday 1st February 2012
Inverness: Drumossie Hotell 8th February 2012
We hope to be showcasing some of the work in establishments where a whole community approach to outdoor learning is being developed. We will also be looking at a new toolkit for planning and designing neighbourhood projects where local woodlands, parks, waterways and other places will provide a context for strong, vibrant inter-disciplinary and subject based learning. Please contact your local authority outdoor learning network co-ordinator or strategy group leader for more details, or email julie.wilson@educationscotland.gov.uk.
National Network Meeting 18-11-2011
Thanks to all those from local authorities and partners who made it along to our national network for outdoor learning gathering at Stirling Management Centre on 8th November. We were treated to some wonderful presentations by:
- Vanessa Morris – Dumfries and Galloway – Creativity and Glow
- Ross Donald – The Scouts Association Scotland – Partnership with Schools
- Alistair Seaman – Grounds for Learning – Playful Outdoor Learning
- Simon Fraser and Aonghas MacNeacail – The Shepherd’s Trees
- Pam Rodway – Crofting Connections
Slides from the presentations can be found in the I-Share section of our OL Network CPD Community page on glow here: http://bit.ly/olnet .
Welcome to our Outdoor Learning Blog !
In Scotland, all children and young people are expected to regularly access their learning through a consistent and progressive experience of the outdoors. There is lots of wonderful learning going on in all sectors as educators explore, design and provide creative and challenging opportunities outdoors through which learners are developing rich, deep and connected understanding.
I love to talk with people about how their outdoor learning is going. I can be contacted at: julie.wilson@educationscotland.gov.uk