Abernyte Primary School is a small school that serves the village of Abernyte and the surrounding community within Perth and Kinross Council. At the time of the inspection, there were 27 children on the school roll.

The improvement issue 

Abernyte Primary School recognised that they needed to utilise their school grounds more effectively to enhance the children’s learning experiences. The headteacher and staff wanted to strengthen the children’s connection with their local environment and drive improvements in biodiversity. As a result, they identified outdoor learning as a school improvement priority.

What the setting did 

The headteacher accessed a range of local and national grants to support improvements to the outdoor space. They linked with the local community and key groups for advice and information. They brought in national awards to help recognise children’s outdoor learning achievements, recognising their deep connection, and curious attitudes towards local nature. Through collaborative approaches to planning and by working closely with the children and the community, staff have reimagined the outdoor learning offer.

Staff invested in resources and time to ensure that children had a rich, dynamic and stimulating outdoor environment. They created an outdoor space that is adaptable to all curricular areas. Over a period of five years, the school grounds have been developed to engage the children of Abernyte with the school’s natural environment. This included:

• creating wild spaces;
• planting trees and hedges;
• building a pond; and
• creating homes for hedgehogs, birds and minibeasts.

Staff continually reflect on their practice and embrace professional development opportunities. For example, they have visited schools and nurseries with Forest School approaches and engaged in relevant continuous professional learning opportunities. To increase the learning offer, pupil support assistants are now accredited with Forest School Kindergarten qualifications. This is supporting outdoor learning and teaching, which is impacting positively on children’s attainment and achievement.

Children are encouraged to think sustainably, making informed choices about the use of recyclable and ethically sourced resources. This is supporting children to develop an understanding of the person behind the product. Staff encourage children in tackling their plastic footprint, voicing their views and actioning waste minimisation. Staff and children now use loose parts and natural materials to increase opportunities to be creative.

Parents, community members, support staff and children are using the full range of diverse areas of the school grounds extremely well. This supports children’s learning within and out with the school day. They are making good use of resources, such as the willow tunnel, orchard, fire pit, pond, neighbouring field and reading and shelter sheds.

In recognition of the progress, Abernyte Primary School has achieved national awards that acknowledge children’s ecological awareness of climate change, pollution and the environmental impact. This includes recognition for the preservation of hedgehogs and other wildlife. Children have also won awards for their work across a range of projects and featured on the national news for their ecological work.

What the sustained impact has been 

Staff are committed to embedding outdoor learning and play into the curriculum, providing a greater range of experiences for children. The design of the outdoor learning spaces allow children to access their learning throughout the year during any season and any weather. Staff embrace the inter-disciplinary nature of outdoor learning and potential for the development of meta-skills such as curiosity, creativity, leadership, initiative, communication and focus. Staff and children alike speak about the sustained levels of engagement when learning outdoors. Children at Abernyte continue to have high attendance. The well-planned curricular offer and the high standards of learning and teaching outdoors is having a positive impact on the children’s attainment and sense of achievement.

The school gives children regular opportunities to become more independent, active learners and develop valuable skills for life. Children are encouraged to try out their own ideas, assess their own risk and explore interests. This in turn nurtures their creativity, stimulating, inspiring and improving motivation and discovery, which in turn has enabled children to concentrate on learning and make better progress.

Connection with nature is having a positive effect on the children’s mental and physical health whilst also improving their energy levels, concentration and mood. The children are immersed in numeracy and literacy concepts from data collection and analysis to writing fact files. During every school day, children at Abernyte participate and enjoy learning across the curriculum, taking their learning outdoors at any given opportunity