Leaving the familiarity and comfort of the classroom can be a daunting prospect for even the most experienced of teachers.  This introductory course will explore the why, how and what of getting out into the playground.   It doesn’t matter if your playground is a small tarmac area within the inner city or a huge green space in the countryside, there will always be ways it can be used to aid learning.

The Why – this is the theory of outdoor learning.  We explore some of the most recent research and discuss why learning outdoors is of benefit to the children, and the staff!

The How – how does a single teacher manage the learning of up to 33 children with a wide range of needs and wants within this new environment?  We explore strategies to help teacher’s develop the confidence.  We also explore activities which can be undertaken within your specific playground.

The What – We explore a range of activities, across the curriculum, which are appropriate for outdoor learning.  Activities require minimal, if any, resources and require little preparation.

Staff should leave the session knowing:

• A range of approaches they can take to help manage the teaching outside
• A range of activities which they can easily implement when back at school
• Theories of outdoor learning
• How to make the most of their playground to help the children make real progress in learning

Duration: 1 day or 2 twilight sessions

Please be aware a large part of this training is delivered outside, regardless of weather conditions.  Participants should dress appropriately.