Learning outside of the classroom
Outdoor Learning
Regular learning and playing in outdoor environments can improve attainment and behaviour, health and wellbeing and socialisation.
Learning and Attainment
Learning outdoors brings teaching alive. Fresh air, natural light and access to open spaces stimulate the brain and aide in concentration. Outdoors, noisy behaviour is encouraged, space is available and making a mess is allowed.
It’s not just PE and biology that can be taught outside, but history, art, maths and literacy…in fact the whole curriculum can be taken outdoors! Outside, the relationship between teachers and pupils changes and concepts that are abstract theories in the classroom become practical real-world experiences.
Conducting core curriculum outside also results in improved attainment. Teachers find that students are more engaged when learning outdoors and that there is a positive impact on their behaviour while students report that their lessons are more enjoyable.
Every child and young person benefits when experiential outdoor learning is an integral part of their education and the professionals working with them have the support and knowledge to make the most of their outdoor learning opportunities.
Nature and Biodiversity
Learning in natural spaces outside of the classroom offers children and young people the direct, extended and deeply engaging experiences with the natural world required to form meaningful attachments to it.
Outdoors, the impact of changing seasons assumes greater significance and children can learn to take care of nature, from growing food to designing wildlife habitats. The creation of natural environments in school grounds means that everyone gets to enjoy and to value nature as well as take responsibility for it. And children who value nature and understand their relationship to it are more likely to become adults who act to preserve it.
The importance of contact with nature for children and young adults should help shape school policy, curriculum and practice, as well as inform school grounds development.
Social Development
School grounds have a huge impact on social and emotional development and their design and management affects the behaviour and happiness of those who spend time in them, children, young people and adults alike.
The school ground is a classroom for lessons in life. It is a key place for children to socialise, to make friends, to observe others and to find solitude.
Children’s behaviour becomes disruptive when these opportunities are not available and they find themselves bored or confined; some want to socialize in groups, some want to be on their own and some want to let off steam.
Through sensitive design, different behaviours can be accommodated and the tensions that lead to conflict can be reduced. School grounds should and can be spaces for children and young people to grow, develop and express themselves positively.
Health and Wellbeing
As more children spend less time outside, the impact on their mental and physical health is becoming a growing concern. For many children, school grounds are the only place they have the freedom to experience the outdoors and be active every day.
Providing more games equipment for children at breaktime can increase physical activity. Simple loose play objects such as hoops and skipping ropes inspire exercise. Playground markings promote running games. Resources to encourage activity such as climbing, jumping and swinging, help children exercise without even realising it.
The more muscles and senses are exercised during physical activity, the more the brain develops its capacity for learning. Physical activity also helps the body burn off the stress hormones adrenalin and cortisol.
But the benefits of a well thought out school ground extend beyond physical health; simply spending time outdoors everyday can promote positive mental health when they provide access to plants, wildlife and the changing seasons.
Risk in Play
Well-designed outdoor spaces develop children’s confidence to take risks and meet challenges while learning how to be safe. Risk-taking is essential for the healthy development of children and young people; with every reasonable risk there is a benefit for the child.
Children need to be able to challenge themselves, discover their own boundaries and learn how to assess and manage risk into the future. Ensuring that learning and play activities in school grounds have beneficial levels of risk provides children and young people with these essential development opportunities.
The best school grounds provide access to reasonable risk activities free from unacceptable hazard. School grounds should not be as safe as possible, but as safe as necessary.
The benefits of outdoor learning and play for children and young people are clear. Research from around the world continues to highlight the importance to children and young adults of regular outdoor activity, experiential learning and play and contact with the natural world.