Special Report: Research: Outdoor Learning - Research evidence: Study 3
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom is a charity that promotes the opportunity for all children to experience life and lessons beyond the classroom as a regular part of growing up. It provides support on the ground, facilitating the sharing of best practice and promoting the benefits of outdoor learning for engaging children in education
Natural Connections Demonstration Project (2012-2016)
Natural England, 2016
Evidence has shown that the challenges and barriers to learning outside the classroom in the natural environment in schools are local, centre on the lack of teacher confidence in teaching outside and the fragmentation of learning outside the classroom service provision. The project was an attempt to understand what was needed to engage schools and how to enable a culture change to encourage more learning in nature. A total of 190 schools took part in the project, implementing a programme of learning in nature across all curriculum areas.
This study aimed to:
Stimulate the demand from schools and teachers for learning outside the classroom in the local natural environment.
Support schools and teachers to build learning outside the classroom in the local natural environment into their planning and practices.
Stimulate the supply of high-quality learning outside the classroom in the natural environment services for schools and teachers.
Findings
- Leadership: There is latent demand for learning in nature in schools. Where there is strong leadership support for learning in nature, teachers are more likely to engage and are more open minded about trying new things. This positive staff culture combined with an aspiration for learning in nature, together with enhanced teaching practice across the curriculum and collaboration and networking with other schools, all lead to sustained growth and engagement in the use of learning in nature as a teaching method across all subject areas.
- Challenges: The most frequently reported challenges to developing learning in the natural environment in schools are lack of confidence in working outside, uncertainty about how it links to the curriculum, lack of funding, the need for volunteer support and time. With the exception of time, all challenges reduced during the lifetime of the project, reflecting schools’ developing understanding of how low-cost learning in nature can support school priorities and be embedded into curricular and non-curricular activities. The need for time to be allocated to teachers to develop their confidence and practice to teach outdoors and to communicate the benefits to others was also noted.
- Impact on pupils: Learning in the natural environment has a positive impact on pupils, with schools recording improvements in enjoyment of lessons, connection with nature, social skills, engagement with learning, health and wellbeing, and behaviour. A majority of schools also stated that learning in the natural environment had a direct impact on pupil attainment. Learning outdoors brought pupils’ creativity to the fore and brings subjects to life. A total of 92 per cent of responding schools agreed with the statement that learning in the natural environment had a positive impact on pupil health and wellbeing.
- Ofsted: In case-study schools inspection reports, Ofsted frequently cited the benefits of high-quality learning in nature on pupil progression, enjoyment of learning and spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.
- Impact on teachers: The positive impact on teachers should not be forgotten. The study noted significant improvements to teaching practice, professional development, job satisfaction and teaching performance. Health and wellbeing were also an important learning in nature outcome. Seventy-two per cent of schools agreed with the statement that learning in the natural environment had a positive impact on staff health and wellbeing. Specifically, learning in the natural environment was seen to offer the space to reflect, allow children to escape the pressures of the classroom, and the space and time to be physically active.
Implications for practice
- Learning in nature holds many benefits for both pupils and teachers, from engagement with learning/job satisfaction to health and wellbeing.
- Leadership support is needed to embed learning in nature across the curriculum and give teaching staff the confidence to take their learning outside the classroom.
- There is recognition by Ofsted as to the benefits of high-quality learning in nature on pupil development and progression.