I believe learning need not take place solely within educational buildings. The outdoor environment has massive potential for learning. This year one of the priorities in the School improvement plan was National Improvement Framework Priorities of closing the attainment gap by improving Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing in the Broad General Education stage. Outdoor learning offers many opportunities for learners to deepen and contextualise their understanding within curriculum areas, and for linking learning across the curriculum in different contexts and at all levels.
Learning in the outdoors can make significant contributions to literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing. In numeracy there are certain E’s & O’s which can be measured in the outdoor learning. In health and wellbeing there are opportunities to become physically active in alternative ways and to improve emotional wellbeing and mental health.
