Curriculum-Led Outdoor Learning That Works in Real Schools

Supporting teachers and leaders to plan, deliver and sustain high-quality outdoor learning — grounded in pedagogy, built on professional judgement, and embedded across the school year.

Welcome to Love Outdoor Learning

Learning is not confined to four walls. When it is planned with purpose, the outdoor environment becomes a powerful context for curriculum, wellbeing and skills development.

Our work is grounded in years of classroom practice, leadership experience and research-informed pedagogy. We support schools to move beyond one-off activities and build confident, curriculum-led outdoor learning that is sustainable over time.

We work across nursery, primary and secondary, including mainstream and complex needs settings, helping staff plan effectively, manage risk thoughtfully and embed outdoor learning within everyday practice.

Outdoor learning is not a trend. It is thoughtful, professional practice that works in real schools.

“As a teacher, I quickly discovered the benefits of taking learning into the playground and beyond. Suddenly those who struggled indoors flourished, the children communicated more and enjoyed learning in new and exciting ways. That confidence and enthusiasm even transferred to indoor learning.”

Carol Murdoch,
Founder of Love Outdoor Learning

Training

Every school is different. Context, culture, staffing and priorities vary, and outdoor learning only works when it is shaped around that reality.

Our training is developed in consultation with you and grounded in real classroom practice. Whether you are beginning your journey or refining existing provision, we support staff to build confidence, strengthen professional judgement and plan curriculum-led outdoor learning that is purposeful and sustainable.

From twilight sessions to full-day insets and longer-term partnership programmes, our work goes beyond inspiration. Schools benefit from:

Structured professional learning
Curriculum mapping and lesson development
Risk–benefit guidance
Strategic leadership conversations
Ongoing consultancy support

Where schools engage in our integrated programme, this includes 12 months’ access to our members’ platform, alongside dedicated consultancy hours to ensure momentum continues beyond the inset day.

Outdoor learning becomes embedded not through enthusiasm alone, but through clarity, confidence and follow-through.

The children had a fantastic experience. The session developed lots of different skills when den building e.g. cooperation, teamwork, problem solving, observation, engineering, listening and talking. We would love to have you back!

CLD Youth Services have successfully worked in partnership with Love Outdoor learning for several years and have found the whole process from booking, organising, delivery and evaluating sessions very efficient, welcoming and knowledgeable. Carol and staff have great approach with young people and are very responsive to needs of young people and to the environment in which workshops are delivered.

The very relaxed approach to Outdoor Learning helps with confidence and enjoyment of the training and activities for staff and children.

Carol has been a great help and support to our school to move us forward in our Outdoor learning Journey. Initial discussions led to a playground assessment which over the past year has increased our confidence as a staff to take learning outside as well as learning from the outdoors. She came to visit us a year on last term to see our progress and offer further advice. We are using the progression to slot ideas into our existing progressions which is helping staff see that Outdoor Learning is not an ‘extra’ but an essential way to enhance learning and teaching. Thanks Love Outdoor learning.

Working with Carol from Love Outdoor Learning was such an easy experience. From initial contact to working together to deliver an outdoor learning day for teachers and support staff across the Mintlaw Cluster, Carol worked with us to deliver a bespoke training to meet the needs of the school and cluster, in line with School Improvement planning.

Carol has been truly outstanding with the support she has provided Little monkeys nurseries. We cannot thank you enough. Your provision and ethos are fantastic, Professional, relaxed, extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the outdoors. Carol has supported Little monkeys in building our confidence and provided guidance on the set up of our Nature Explorers. We have undertaken a course that carol provided in house and the response from the staff team was fantastic, all experiences, ideas and tips that carol shared is all on her website which is very useful to be able to look back upon, Love outdoor learning website provides many wonderful resources including a termly Calander to help make planning more efficient and less time consuming. Carol is always at the other end of the phone should you need any advice. We look forward to continuing our journey with Carol and her team at Love Outdoor Learning.