Getting the best for children outside the classroom

It is difficult to visualize how progress in all four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence framework can be fulfilled without  facing challenges outside of the classroom. The outdoor classroom provides a context  for hands on learning experiences in most area’s of the school curriculum.

High quality learning comes from high quality planning.

Commonly, educational visits are labeled as 'school trips' which undermines the value of 'real world learning'.

The structure of out of classroom work, which could also include working in the school grounds, does have to allow for flexibility in the use of available tools to meet individuals interests and needs.

Frequently barriers are faced by teachers wishing to use the outdoor classroom, some of these are real but some are perceived.

This seminar will look at some examples of how the outdoor classroom can be used to help children progress through the four capacities and other areas of the curriculum - particularly children who need the most help. It will also consider the barriers perceived by teachers and how they can be overcome. Participants will be invited to share experiences and look for solutions to problems.

Bob runs a small education centre based on a croft on the Black Isle. Since training as a teacher he has always been involved in school farming and growing projects. Bob’s particular interest has been in the use of farming/ growing / environmental resources as tools for delivering many aspects of the curriculum.

Recognition of this took place in 1999 when Bob was invited by the DfES to meet in a small group to discuss how the department might help schools make greater use of food growing as a means of delivering the curriculum with increasing understanding of food issues.

This then grew into “Growing Schools” where Bob sat on the steering group, until a few months after moving to Scotland in order to set up Glachbeg Croft Centre. Bob also works with the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens supporting community groups in the North of Scotland.

He has been on the Executive of the National Association of Field Studies Officers for 8 years. Through this he is involved in a network of environmental education centres, covering a range of approaches.