Bradford schools reveal benefits of outdoor learning

Children at primary schools belonging to Priestley Academy Trust - Westbourne, Atlas, Margaret McMillan, Lilycroft and Green Lane - have been learning in outdoor classrooms all year round.

They teamed up with the government-funded Nature Friendly Schools and the mental health charity YoungMinds to develop and enhance the best use of their outdoor space for their children’s wellbeing.

“We prepare and grow plants and vegetables from autumn through to spring then spend the summer harvesting and cooking our favourite crops in our cooking area,” said a spokesperson for Westbourne Primary School in Skinner Lane. “We understand about seasonality of crops and how great fresh food tastes.”

The outdoor classroom is used to help the youngsters understand the reproduction of plants, and the lifecycles of plants and animals.

“We have a bug hotel which is great for exploring. We are fully kitted out with wellies, waterproofs and gloves so we can go out in any weather. The pupils gain in confidence and independence, improve social and physical skills and become young citizens interested in their local environment, bringing about change in the care of the local area.”

Lilycroft Primary School, in Lilycroft Road, has two small areas in which children plant fruit and vegetables. They have a variety of flower and vegetable beds made from recycled sleepers. They also have access to nearby Scotchman Road Allotments.

Forest School sessions take place at Farcliffe Children and Family Centre in their small wooded area .

“Every week the children work with an expert gardener. Forest School sessions include creating minibeast habitats, using tools, den building, and safe fire lighting skills,” said a school spokesperson.

“Children have developed confidence, social skills, communication through interacting with nature. Outdoor learning has benefitted children who have behavioural difficulties and social and emotional difficulties.

“Teachers see improvements in social skills and behaviour. They also see children develop more confidence in classroom discussions.

“Youngsters have learned safe risk-taking, for example, how to safely light a fire and also how to safely put the fire out. Outdoor learning crosses all subject areas from language and maths to art and IT. It also helps with perseverance, reliance and problem solving.”

Through the JU:MP project, funded by Sport England, the school has purchased an outdoor coat for every child.

At Margaret McMillan Primary School in Scotchman Road, Heaton, pupils and staff value the outdoor environment.

“We have some great outdoor space but alas no school field, so have to maximise what we have and utilise the surrounding area,” said a school spokesperson. “The outdoor environment is a feature of all our learning and we go outside in all weathers.”

Every year group has an educational visit in an outdoor environment and years four, five and six have residential trips.

Teacher Sarah Johnson said: “It is really important that our children have an opportunity to experience learning in the outdoors: it expands their horizons and sparks their curiosity.

“We have Lister Park, Heaton Woods, Nell Bank in Ilkley and the Yorkshire Dales on our doorstep. Further afield, the older children have opportunities to thrive in a different environment - to stay on a tall ship in Scotland and visit an outward bound centre for a week in the Lake District.”

The children are extremely enthusiastic about their outdoor learning: pupil Awais Habeeb remembers “racing sticks down the river to see how fast the river was flowing and making dens was so much fun - ours was the biggest.”

Rahil Shahid said: “I loved the animal scavenger hunt at Nell Bank.”

Outdoor learning provides many benefits for the children. “We want them to develop lifelong healthy habits that the great outdoors provides: developing social skills, co-operation, collaboration, independence and resilience. The benefits to emotional wellbeing are also important even more so during these uncertain times,” said a school spokesperson.

Forest School co-ordinator Sam Riley works with all year groups to provide a variety of outdoor skills and has definitely noticed a difference. “I have seen an improvement in confidence from children who are normally shy and quiet in class - these are the children who normally take the lead during team building activities. I have seen an improvement in the children sharing equipment during our lessons as well and working together without being prompted.”

Margaret McMillan’s reception playground includes a mud kitchen, tunnels, hills and a variety of surfaces which help the children to develop balance and gross motor skills.

Teachers linked outside schooling to all curriculum areas. “We know it provides great benefit to emotional wellbeing,” said the spokesperson. “Our gardening groups provide valuable opportunities to learn about where our food comes from and Years two and three enjoy learning to ride bikes - we have a fleet of bikes. Dr Bike also visits school to fix and service children’s own bikes to make sure they are safe. The school also makes use of resources across the Trust, such as the climbing wall at Green Lane Primary.

Atlas Community Primary School in Lincoln Close, Manningham, has outdoor resources including allotments, a market garden, mud kitchens, woodland gardens, a fire pit and outdoor castle.Forest School sessions take place throughout the year, whatever the weather. “We use the weather conditions as a learning resource and provide children with waterproof clothing and wellies,” said a school spokesperson.Children use the gardens and allotments to plant seasonal fruit, vegetables and herbs throughout the year, which they can use in cooking sessions both in their indoor cookery room and around the outdoor fire pit. They also sell fresh, homegrown produce from their market garden for parents.An outdoor design and technology workshop gives a real context to building and upcycling products.The pupils have learned skills including growing organic food, soil preparation, harvesting, cooking outdoors, fire safety and use of tools. They have enjoyed learning about plants, mini-beasts and birds. They have taken part in team work and found their confidence increase.

“The children thrive on being outdoors - lessons such as maths can be delivered outdoors using resources which can bring the learning to life and engage children without them realising they are being taught,” said a school spokesperson. “In situations such as these, children who are less confident can flourish as they do not feel the same pressures as being in a classroom situation.

“We teach the children to keep trying, to never give up - session like Forest School are ideal to build this perseverance to achieve, which then leads to links in other lessons.

“By giving children hands-on experience, such as real tools, they are able to develop their physical skills - fine and gross motor skills - through building muscles in their arms and hands which lead to a positive impact on other skills such as writing.”

Among the outdoor facilities at Green Lane are a field, an allotment with a pond and a woodland area currently being redeveloped. A peace garden is being developed, as well as a sensory garden with fragrant plants - a space for quiet contemplation.

Pupils have access to bikes. Off-site activities including gorge scrambling, caving - the school, has an artificial cave system - walking and forest schools, with trained staff.

“Working outside enhances and develops all skill areas including social and emotional resilience,” said a school spokesperson. “It encourages children’s ability to work as a team and to work together to problem solve.

“It teaches how to make calculated, safe choices, not to be risk adverse, to take up a challenge safely. It teaches life skills and first aid.

“It Improves physical skills including gross motor, balance, hand-eye coordination and strength, especially within early years.”

At all schools teachers report improvements in social skills and behaviour after outdoor sessions. They also see children develop more confidence in the classroom.

“Sometimes sluggish, sleepy children just need a session outdoors to leave them invigorated and happy, leading to better learning behaviours throughout the day,” said a spokesperson at Atlas.

“As well as presenting less risk to health, learning outdoors has helped the children keep active, engaged and happy.”