Why take learning outdoors?

Being outdoors and active is a vital part of growing up and living a healthy and fulfilled life. Outdoor learning benefits children, young people and adults alike. It engages our hearts through what we feel and the emotions we experience; our heads through what we think, see and say; and our hands through our physical experiences including how we move through the space the outdoors provides. Outdoor learning can happen anywhere – from the school grounds to local greenspace, from the high street to national parks; from outside your front door to the rest of the world.

Outdoor learning resources

To see a full range of online curriculum resources for outdoor learning please visit our Outdoor Learning /Learning for Sustainability Wakelet. This bank of resources has been collated in partnership with a wide range of outdoor learning and Learning for Sustainability organisations to meet the needs of practitioners across a wide range of sectors.

Key outdoor learning policies and documents

• Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning (2010)
• Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning - Gaelic version (2010)
• Outdoor Learning: Practical guidance, ideas and support for teachers and practitioners in Scotland (Education Scotland, 2009)
• Learning for Sustainability: the Report of the One Planet Schools Working Group (2012)
• Vision 2030+ Report and Learning for Sustainability Action Plan
• Scotland’s Coalition for Outdoor Play and Learning Position Statement
• Out to Play: practical guidance on creating outdoor play experiences for children (2020)
• Space to Grow: Design guidance for early learning and childcare services and out of care services (2017)
• Suitability Core Fact: Building Better Schools (School estate guidance, 2017)
• Policy Scotland - Outdoor Learning Briefing Paper (June 2020)
• Managing Risk in Outdoor Learning
• PDF file: Building your curriculum: Outside and In
• PDF file: Building Your Curriculum: Outside and In - Reflection Tool
• Successful Approaches to Learning Outdoors: A Thematic Review by Education Scotland (Feb 2022)

Further resources and support

• A summary of Learning for Sustainability resources
• Outdoor Learning Directory (Scotland) - a one stop shop to outdoor learning services provided by Scottish public bodies for environment, forestry, heritage and education
• National Network of Outdoor Learning (Scotland): Map of Outdoor Learning and Play Providers – interactive map
• Going Out There - Scottish framework for safe practice in off-site visits
• Playtime revolution – a resource from Grounds for Learning
• Forest Kindergarten approach – learning outdoors with confidence
• PDF file: Religious and moral education through outdoor learning (1.1 MB)
• Beyond your boundary:  easy steps to learning in local greenspace

Professional learning

• Support for professional development in outdoor learning
• Teaching Learning Outdoors - online professional learning course from SAPOE and Education Scotland
• Supporting Learning Outdoors - online professional learning course from SAPOE
• Recorded outdoor learning webinars on YouTube
  • How awards can help you take learning outdoors (April 2021)
  • Social studies and outdoor learning (May 2021)
  • A Headteacher’s journey (Aug 2020)
  • Four contexts and outdoor learning (Sept 2020)
  • Using digital tools to capture, create and share outdoor learning (Sept 2020)
  • Learning outdoors - Numeracy and Mathematics (Sept 2020)
  • Outdoor learning with a focus on additional support needs (Nov 2020)
  • Literacy in the outdoors (Nov 2020)
  • RME in the outdoors (Nov 2020)
  • Gender differences in the outdoors (Nov 2020)
  • Outdoor learning - what can we learn from research
  • Outdoor learning and early level

Research

• NatureScot: Teaching, learning and play in the outdoors: a survey of provision in Scotland in 2022
• Policy briefings: Learning for Sustainability and outdoor learning
• Brilliant residentials (Learning Away): The use of residential experiences and their impact on attainment
• Transforming outdoor learning in schools: lessons from the natural connections project
• Natural Connections Demonstration Project, 2012-2016: Final report and analysis of the key evaluation questions
• More than just a ski trip. The importance of relationships in the development of positive characteristics: a study analysing the efficacy of a school expedition as a context for, and a driver of, character development
• Outdoor learning in Scottish education
• NatureScot: Learning in local greenspace – an evaluation report (2022)

Case studies

ASN

• NatureScot: Learning in Local Greenspace: St Crispin's School - a case study

Early Learning and Childcare

• Learning outdoors with confidence: Newmains Family Learning Centre, North Lanarkshire
• Get the bairns oot! An outdoor kindergarten in Norway

Primary

• NatureScot: Learning in Local Greenspace:
  • Kirkshaws Primary School - a case study
  • St Paul’s Primary School - a case study
  • Beckford Primary School and the Rowan Cottage Nurture Group - a case study
  • St Benedict’s Primary School - a case study
  • Patna Primary School - a case study
  • Linnvale Primary School - a case study
  • Easter Carmuirs Primary School - a case study
• All about the bees! Logan Primary School, East Ayrshire
• Gartocharn Primary School – outdoor learning before and into the recovery phase
• Outdoor Learning as a context and an approach for learning: Middleton Park School, Aberdeen City
• Cycle Co-operative, East Dunbartonshire

Secondary

• International partnerships: Bannerman High School, Glasgow

CLD

• Family Fresh Air Club, Dundee

COVID-related guidance

• Scottish Government Advice for Schools: Visits and Trips Autumn Term 2020 (August 2020)
• Outdoor Education Centres: Fit for the future (August 2020)
• Education recovery and support from outdoor education centres