Across Scotland, educators are increasingly embracing the value of outdoor learning. Each year, I take the time to review a wide selection of HMI reports, searching for all comments related to outdoor learning. This year, I searched reports from 1st January through to 19th May. This gives a snapshot of what works well and where schools are still developing. While we list the schools at the end of this blog, they really do represent what I see across Scotland and beyond. Last year, I focused only on primary school reports. Around a third talked about outdoor learning, many just one sentence (and lots saying there needed to be more happening). This year, nearly every primary school report and every single early years setting talked about outdoor learning. It is still rarely discussed with secondary schools, but that doesn’t mean outdoor learning doesn’t happen in these settings, it suggests there should be more. After all, we know that meaningful, engaging outdoor learning opportunities for children and young people help them to learn, grow, and thrive.
Primary Schools
Many primary schools are making strong use of their outdoor environments. This does not necessarily mean investing in equipment but instead looking at what they have and using it to support learning. Some schools praised for this have concrete playgrounds, highlighting that while green space is nice, it is not essential for delivering outdoor learning.
Staff are increasingly planning creative and stimulating outdoor learning experiences. It was great to see some of our member schools praised for this. These activities are often linked to literacy, numeracy, and wider curricular areas, contributing to children’s engagement, confidence, and wellbeing. It was also highlighted that many schools use local areas such as woodlands, beaches, parks, and community facilities. We always speak to schools about supporting their staff in using the playground to start. Once they are comfortable there, it is much easier for staff to take their classes off-site. Of course, it is essential to recognise that staffing can make taking classes off-site tricky, but the wider community and parents can be utilised here.
Professional learning plays a crucial role, with several settings investing in staff development and building progression frameworks to ensure outdoor learning opportunities develop over time. Successful Approaches to Learning Outdoors talked about the importance of high-quality training. Teachers know their curriculum, and training can help open minds about how it can be explored outdoors and build staff confidence. Schools recognise the importance of progression and are beginning to embed outdoor learning more purposefully across stages. We have a great podcast with Education Scotland that explores progression, which you can listen to here. It was also followed up by a blog. Outdoor learning is also seen as a key tool in addressing the poverty related attainment gap, with some settings using targeted funding to support inclusive, skill-building outdoor programmes. We adore delivering these programmes and ensure to survey children and staff to be able to measure the difference they can make.
Leith Walk Primary in the City of Edinburgh stands out for its strong, structured, and inclusive approach to outdoor learning. They do all of this despite having no green space on site. Their programme is progressive, linked to curricular priorities, and provides high-quality learning in innovative indoor/outdoor contexts.
However, the reports also highlight areas for growth. Some schools are just beginning their outdoor learning journey and are encouraged to increase consistency, ensure progression, and evidence impact. Developing whole-school strategies and stronger links to curricular planning remain priorities in many settings. This is something we work closely with schools. Helping them see the links in the curriculum to outdoor learning so it becomes a tool for teaching and learning as opposed to an add-on.
Nursery and Early Years Settings
It is no surprise that nursery years and early years settings continue to deliver strong outdoor learning. After all, it has been embedded here for a long time. We know outdoor learning is powerful for developing curiosity, resilience, and physical confidence. Many nurseries offer regular outdoor experiences that allow children to explore natural materials, build motor skills, and engage in imaginative play.
Practitioners in several settings use their local environment well, visiting woodlands, beaches, and community gardens. This helps to provide children with real-life contexts for learning. Programmes such as ‘Woodland Wednesdays’ and ‘Fresh Air Fridays’ are helping to embed outdoor learning into the week’s rhythm. Staff are also increasingly supporting children to manage risk, develop independence, and take ownership of their learning environments.
Secondary Schools
At the secondary level, mention of outdoor learning is still somewhat sparse within reports. We see that outdoor learning is being used to support wellbeing and engagement, particularly for young people facing barriers to attendance and achievement. We are currently running woodland groups for young people in this cohort and find they are responsive and quickly develop various skills. Many schools are integrating outdoor experiences into broader personal development and skills programmes, helping young people to build teamwork, resilience, and confidence.
Some schools also link outdoor learning to curricular areas, such as geography and physical education, and offer accreditation in areas like navigation, mental health, and beekeeping. Anecdotally, we hear of schools using it to support maths, literacy, and more. Like primary schools, high schools can take part of a lesson outside to support a key concept then explore more indoors.
Specialist and Other Setting
In specialist and alternative settings, outdoor learning is frequently used to deliver personalised and practical learning experiences. Activities such as climbing, gardening, foraging, and building projects help young people develop a wide range of life skills in a motivating and supportive context. Staff use local natural environments and build young people’s confidence through hands-on learning and collaboration.
What Next?
Across all settings, common threads emerge, the importance of progression, the value of partnerships, and the power of outdoor learning to support physical health, emotional well-being, and transferable skills. Schools are encouraged to:
- Develop whole-school progression frameworks
- Make the best use of local environments
- Invest in staff training
- Involve learners in planning
- Track and evidence impact
As inspection reports suggest, outdoor learning is not a nice to have, it is a vital part of a broad, balanced curriculum that meets learners where they are. With continued focus and support, Scotland’s schools are well positioned to lead the way in embedding outdoor learning for all.
If your school wants to take its outdoor learning further, we can help. At Love Outdoor Learning, we offer:
- Tailored CPD and professional learning for staff
- Support in building or reviewing outdoor learning progression frameworks
- Guidance on evidencing the impact of outdoor learning
- Help in developing cross-curricular outdoor learning experiences
- Resources and mentoring to embed outdoor practice
Get in touch whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your outdoor provision. We’d love to help you bring learning to life – outdoors.
Schools and Settings Referenced in Reports (Jan–May 2025)
Primary Schools:
- Brownhall PS (Dumfries and Galloway)
- Carrbridge PS (Highland)
- Callander PS (Stirling)
- Blacklaw PS (South Lanarkshire)
- Dykehead PS (North Lanarkshire)
- Kilbarchan PS (Renfrewshire)
- Doonfoot PS (South Ayrshire)
- Cuiken PS (Midlothian)
- North Bute PS (Argyll and Bute)
- Scotstoun PS (Glasgow)
- Leith Walk PS (City of Edinburgh)
- St Teresa’s RC PS (Dumfries and Galloway)
- Mauchline PS (East Ayrshire)
- Kilbowie PS (West Dunbartonshire)
- Stoneyburn PS (West Lothian)
- Antonine PS (Falkirk)
- Meigle PS (Perth and Kinross)
- Alloway PS (South Ayrshire)
- Balbardie PS (West Lothian)
- Sandaig PS (Glasgow)
- St Mary’s PS (North Lanarkshire)
- St Mary’s PS and ELCC (West Dunbartonshire)
- St Joseph’s PS (East Renfrewshire)
- Burghead PS (Moray)
- Stanley PS (Perth and Kinross)
Secondary Schools:
- Bucksburn Academy (Aberdeen City)
- Ayr Academy (South Ayrshire)
- Kinlochbervie HS (Highland)
- Lesmahagow HS (South Lanarkshire)
- Abercorn Secondary (Glasgow)
- Preston Lodge HS (East Lothian)
Nursery/Early Years:
- High Flyers Nursery (South Lanarkshire)
- Carrbridge Nursery (Highland)
- Tarbert Academy ELC (Argyll and Bute)
- Doonfoot EYC (South Ayrshire)
- Nethermains PS Nursery (Falkirk)
- Kilbowie PS ELCC (West Dunbartonshire)
- Mauchline ECC (East Ayrshire)
- Alloway PS Nursery (South Ayrshire)
Other Settings:
- Choices School (West Dunbartonshire)
- Strathallan School (Independent)
