Schooling outdoors: A complete guide

Published on in SMART THINKING
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Outdoor learning has been a hot topic for some time now, but what about outdoor schooling? Are you making the most of your school grounds throughout the school day and beyond? We take a look at all the ways you could take the school day outdoors, as well as hygiene implications and potential funding pots you can access to improve your school grounds.

 

Benefits of outdoor schooling

From reducing blood pressure to improving mood and focus, there are many benefits to spending time outdoors. For much of the year, the school day takes up the majority of daylight hours, so it might be the only opportunity for your staff and pupils to enjoy time outdoors.

The benefits of being outdoors include:

  • Lower blood pressure and reducing stress
  • Improves mood – anxiety, depression and anger are reduced after spending time outdoors
  • Improves focus – studies have shown that both adults and children who have difficulty focusing, find it easier to concentrate after spending time being in nature.
  • Improves confidence and self-esteem
  • Improves physical health

 

Opportunities for outdoor schooling

Outdoor learning is the most obvious opportunity for school staff to include the outdoors in their routine. But there is so much more to the school day. Where and when else can school leaders encourage children and staff alike to take to the great outdoors?

 

Assembly

Assembly is such a lovely time for the whole school to come together and collectively learn. It usually requires a large indoor hall or gymnasium, and, in some schools without a large enough space, this means breaking up the group. Why not take the event outdoors? You might need a microphone and/or a wireless speaker to elevate the voice of whoever is leading the assembly, but what a lovely opportunity to come together and celebrate nature!

Lunch

Utilising your outdoor space for eating lunch could free up the hall space needed to serve hot dinners. You’ll need to invest in picnic tables or other outdoor furniture for a comfortable spot for children (and staff) to eat. It might also be nice to consider, if possible, a spot away from the main playground where potential hazards might disturb a peaceful lunch, i.e. flying footballs or an errant hula hoop.

 

Events

What about holding wider community events outside? You could hold a teddy bear’s picnic in the summer and invite parents to join. Or you could utilise space outdoors for your school’s production. You benefit from extra space for more attendees as well as all the great benefits from spending more time outdoors.

 

Staff meetings

Space for private meetings is often at a premium in schools so why not take them outdoors? You can encourage staff to take more meetings outdoors by creating spaces where this can be done in comfort. Outdoor seating areas away from the main playground could make for the perfect spot. Reduce the stress of your staff and give them more spaces to hold all-important meetings.

 

Lessons and intervention

Your staff are likely already utilising your school grounds for outdoor learning. But is your outdoor space lending itself to the effective learning of your pupils? Here are pointers you might want to consider when evaluating your outdoor learning spaces:

  • Easy access
  • Suitable surfacing
  • Outdoor storage
  • Variety for different subjects/topics
  • Layout

 

Cleaning and hygiene for outdoor schooling

When you’re thinking about creating more opportunities for taking more of the school routine outdoors, it’s important to consider cleaning and hygiene. It helps to consider decisions using a risk-benefit approach. You are never going to be able to guarantee zero risk. Begin with a beneficial view of outdoor schooling, particularly at the moment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The government have produced guidance for hygiene and cleaning during the COVID pandemic aimed at public spaces like parks, shopping areas and wider green spaces. The main points from the document that can be applied to school outdoor spaces include:

  • Focus cleaning efforts on areas of heavy traffic and places where there is a lot of hand contact.
  • Provide access to handwashing stations and signage that encourage hand sanitiser gels for handwashing. You probably already have a policy for washing hands upon leaving and entry into the building.
  • Have one-way traffic systems in place and utilise fire doors and alternative access points into school grounds to help with pinch-points.
  • Use all the space you have outdoors to assist with distancing measures.

 

Training staff in effective outdoor learning

If you’re going to invest more in your outdoor space, it may also be worth investing in training for your staff. Provide them with the ability to utilise the entirety of your school grounds.

Learning through Landscapes are a UK-based charity, dedicated to enhancing outdoor learning and play for young people. Their website is filled with information about how to provide inspiring outdoor environments. They also offer training for teachers and Early Years practitioners in curriculum-led outdoor learning practices.

 

Planning for investment

It’s a good idea to discuss the potential for your outdoor space before you invest large sums of money in equipment for your school. Discuss with the staff what the children of the school need most: access to nature? A calm nurturing outdoor environment? Physical exercise? Emotional connection?

It’s also a really good idea to consult the children themselves. They’re the ones that will use the area, and they probably know your school grounds like no other. They’ll know where it gets freezing cold in the winter, where’s the best place to avoid the sun in the summer, and where’s the best place to find a spider or caterpillar. They will have some of the best ideas for the space; don’t forget them!

 

Funding

You’ve decided to develop your outdoor space for all the many benefits it will provide your staff and pupils, but where will you find the money for these grand plans? We’ve put together a list of places you can try to get funding for your project.

 

If you’ve got the ideas and the funding, we’ve got the equipment. See our full range of outdoor furniture.