Outdoor learning
Outdoor learning
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Being outside is a crucial part of childhood yet children in Wales are increasingly spending less time outside. The evidence is clear, being outside improves our mental wellbeing and physical health. Connecting with nature improves our mood, lowers stress, improves mental capacity and promotes physical activity.
Developing authentic learning experiences outside of the classroom should be considered holistically, focusing on the four purposes of the curriculum and should allow for progression for all learners from 3 to 16.
Outdoor learning experiences fall into four key domains:
learning in real life situations
outdoor physical activity
adventurous activities
nature based learning.
Through these types of activities learners can engage in meaningful learning and develop the characteristics of the four purposes.
Across the region there are a number of schools that have developed a range of exciting and innovative practices to build outdoor learning experiences into the curriculum.
Below you will find links to the case studies created by these schools.
If you are interested in developing a case study please contact tom.basher@partneriaeth.cymru
Mathematics and Numeracy Area of Learning and Experience in the outdoors
This case study explores and explains our journey to developing the teaching of Mathematics and Numeracy in Curriculum for Wales using the outdoors to make learning experiences purposeful, engaging and exciting.
Improving the provision of Outdoor Learning in KS2 at Ysgol Penygaer with a focus on health and wellbeing.
The starting point and driving force for the project came from a desire to improve the provision of outdoor learning, which had been influenced by the quote and statistic below.
“I won’t forget that the learning you do outside of my classroom is just as important as the learning that you do inside my classroom”
Bill Ferriter
"3⁄4 of UK children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates."
Dirt is Good – Unilever (2016)
Ysgol Bro Dinefwr's zero-carbon bid
Ysgol Bro Dinefwr has ambitious plans to develop a sustainable model of working for schools. Learners are working with local businesses and organisations with the aim of becoming part of a circular economy. Plans are in place to reduce waste, pollution and carbon emissions and reduce their impact on the local and wider environment.
Working with external partners, such as the University of Swansea and the National Botanical Gardens has enabled them to create authentic learning experiences for their learners.
Birchgrove Primary School: Developing learners’ independence through outdoor learning practices that are informed by teacher-led research, including ‘An Introduction to Biophilia’.
The excellent pedagogical approaches to outdoor learning in foundation phase have been disseminated through partnership with key stage two teachers, and specific enquiry work has been undertaken throughout the academic year 2020-21. One area of enquiry has focused on how learners in year 2 and year 4 can further develop their own independence and self-efficacy through the outdoor learning experiences provided. Teachers researched effective approaches to developing independence through outdoor learning and also attended the two-part training course ‘An Introduction to Biophilia’, facilitated by Dr Coral Harper.
Neyland Community Primary School
Neyland Community School started their outdoor learning journey in September 2020, working with Pembrokeshire Outdoor Schools, and shared their experience of introducing regular outdoor learning as part of their return to learning from September 2020.
Since beginning this school improvement, the school has invested in developing the work further, both in terms of the school grounds, but also by developing their understanding of outdoor learning pedagogies.
Crwys Primary: Outdoor learning has huge benefits for children and teachers — so why isn’t it used in more schools?
Taking everyday lessons outside can improve well-being and engagement, yet it is not as used as often as it could be.
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