Outdoor Learning
Outdoor Learning is a statutory element of A Curriculum for Excellence. From our experience working in schools we recognise that delivering the promise of “a series of well-planned outdoor learning experiences” is often easier said than done. Time, the weather, the ebbs and flows of the school year as well as teacher trepidation, staffing, the incorrect clothing and the demands of the rest of the curriculum all mean that this is sometimes difficult to realise.
We believe in the power of the outdoors to enhance learning across the curriculum and are here to support you in your journey. We can collaborate with class teachers to complement their delivery of a topic or subject area or with whole clusters to diagnose and encourage teachers to have a go whether you are a small rural school surrounded by woodland or an inner city school with nothing but tarmac.
Our growing bank of resources can help you to deliver outdoor learning across the primary age range and beyond. We believe that getting outside is a question of confidence rather than competence: Knowing what to do and what to look for is the important part; being able to identify things comes a distant second. It's about asking the right questions and responding to the children and young people in front of you.
To find out more please get in touch using Outdoor Learning as the subject.
Unstructured play
We don't organise activities or themes for our days. We don't tell the children what to do - we also don't tell them what not to do! We let them decide what they want to do.
If they want to build dens, they can. If they want to climb trees, they can. If they want to wallow in mud, water or a combination of both, they can and almost certainly will. We are there to support them in their play, to provide them with the space in which they can and to encourage them to consider the risks that they are likely to take.
We will provide them with ropes and tarpaulins, knives and saws but only if they want them. We will answer their questions, foster their curiosity but will, above all let them play however they choose.
We can't promise that they won't get filthy dirty and/or soaking wet which is why we request a change of clothes ... and shoes!
