Learning Alfresco

If you’re a parent, chances are you are being bombarded with complaints about the return to school following the long summer break.  Teachers need to work hard to inject some variety into the learning routine to help keep pupils motivated throughout the school day.  A simple solution to breaking the daily grind is to literally take learning outside!  Research shows that, more and more schools are recognizing the benefits of an outdoor classroom. Learning through Landscapes (the national school grounds charity) undertook a survey in 2003 which proved that schools which have invested in and improved their outdoor facilities for pupils, experience significant tangible benefits such as

-    enhanced pupil behaviour (73% of respondents)
-    a reduction in bullying (64% of respondents)
-    improved attitudes towards learning (65% of respondents)
-    better social interaction (84% of respondents)
-    increased community / parental involvement (66% of respondents)

The government’s growing support of the outdoor classroom is evidenced by The Growing Schools initiative which was set up in 2001. In 2006 the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto was launched and since then more than 1698 organisations and individuals have signed up.

If your child’s school does not currently boast an outdoor learning area why not put the idea to your PTA or School Governor representative?  At Lime Orchard, we have a great deal of experince in building inspirational outdoor learning spaces, so for more information on school gardens, visit http://www.limeorchard.co.uk/OutdoorClassrooms-GardensforSchools.htm or speak to a member of the Lime Orchard team on 0845 539 1467 .