Outdoor Learning - Teaching Expertise

Often when we think about using the environment to teach young children, we focus on the natural world and ignore all the wonderful examples that exist around us in the built environment. Early Years Update discusses ways to use the man-made environment around us to develop early years learning

During this term we are focusing on aspects of school improvement that can be improved with a ‘spring clean’ (see Issue 10). In this edition it’s time for a spring clean of the indoor and outdoor environments to promote life skills

The government plans to spend £235m on improving playground provision, but what can be done to make sure all children enjoy the new facilities? Crispin Andrews invesigates

Switching the classroom for the seaside can be a refreshing change for teachers and pupils when the weather is warmer. Brian Asbury suggests some ways to link the primary science curriculum to seaside lesson plans for KS2

Forest Schools aim to encourage and inspire individuals of any age through positive outdoor experiences. Angela Youngman investigates the outdoor learning initiative, which originates from Scandinavia

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This free resource comprises of 10 traditional playground games for you to print out and use to enhance and enrich playtime

These enrichment activities encourage pupils to apply logical thought to real life situations, to learn the benefits of considered evaluation.

These enrichment activities focus on geography and maths, looking at mapping the landscape and finding the centre. read more

Outdoor and out-of-school activities are summer term features that should be equally as accessible to, and enjoyable for, children with SEN. This article explores how SENCOs can ensure this is the case

PE is the theme of our third subject-specific issue of SENCO Week, in which we look at the inclusion of pupils with SEN in all kinds of physical education and sport

This week's assembly looks at conservation, using the example of a pair of ospreys who have returned to nest again at the Scottish Wildlife Trust Centre read more

A number of resources are available when funding school grounds improvements, explains Gill O'Donnell

In early years especially, boys should not be forced into a "girl-like" model of learning, explains Steve Mynard

Jan White provides a range of practical ideas for creating enabling outdoor environments that support young children's health, wellbeing, development and learning

Jan White, consultant in outdoor play in the early years, looks at implications of the EYFS for the development of outdoor environments for young children

David Storrie describes a course on learning outside the classroom that has allowed teachers to critically examine their school grounds

Lisa Symonds looks at the benefits that skiing can offer schools and provides some tips on arranging a school skiing trip read more

Former headteacher Bob Jelley remembers a time when 'school trips' were a lot more straightforward read more

Margaret Edgington highlights the importance of providing children with appropriate levels of risk and challenge to enable them to develop skills for learning and for life

The Bristol Climbing Centre courses aim to develop the whole person. Jo McCready explains their teaching philosophy and describes their work with more able students read more

Practitioners need to consider the way that space and resources can be used to encourage children’s investigations. Pat Brunton and Linda Thornton explain

Headteachers Anne Clarke and Annabelle Guyver analyse the benefits that trips abroad bring to participating pupils and to the staff leading them

The British Standards Institution (BSI) is working on a new standard aimed at making school trips abroad safer. read more

Outdoor learning through nature can be very enriching for pupils. Angela Youngman discusses this broad and creative approach to learning

If you have equipment which is fixed or too large to be put away, what can you do to prevent the threat of damage overnight? Police Sergeant Cotton of West Midlands Police has some advice for you to follow. read more

Dr Anjana Khatwa and Richard Edmonds raise questions about fossil collecting and how to maintain environments for a sustainable future. read more

Whether you are taking children off premises to visit the local museum or taking young people away for a full five days, you need to ensure that every aspect of your planning incorporates safety and protection planning

The Manifesto for Education Outside the Classroom promotes high-quality outdoor learning experiences to support cognitive skills and aid personal development – gardening fits the bill, says Dr Susan Johnson

Archaeologist and teacher John Crossland, describes how you can use an historic site with Foundation Stage children. read more

Help children to understand what risk actually is and the part they can play in minimising risk and doing things safely. Margaret Collins describes how children can learn to be risk assessors at school