Cymraeg

Estyn and Ofsted

Estyn

In September 2011 Estyn published a report called “Outdoor Learning, an evaluation of learning in the outdoors for children under five in the foundation phase.” In this they recognised the value of outdoor learning:

“Most practitioners report that learning outdoors promotes children’s engagement and enjoyment in learning. This in turn impacts positively on children’s personal and social development, general behaviour and wellbeing. Children persevere with activities for longer periods outdoors and will attempt new things more readily. They learn to co-operate and apply their thinking skills to real problems, such as making a water-tight den for characters in a story. Generally, levels of enjoyment are high and children take pleasure in what they do.”

“There is a consensus among practitioners and local authorities that children’s knowledge and understanding of the world and physical development improve best where outdoor resources and facilities are best exploited”

Ofsted

In October 2008 Ofsted published a report called ‘Learning Outside the Classroom How far should you go?’ They reported “All of the schools and colleges surveyed provided exciting, direct and relevant learning activities outside the classroom. Such hands-on activities led to improved outcomes for pupils and students, including better achievement, standards, motivation, personal development and behaviour. The survey also found examples of the positive effects of learning outside the classroom on young people who were hard to motivate.”