Back to School - Outside!

Recent research commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has revealed that children attending schools that encouraged gardening became more resilient, confident and lived healthier lives.  The study which involved 1300 teachers and 10 schools demonstrates the power of a school garden as an effective teaching tool (rather than viewing it merely as an extra curricular activity).

Researchers at the National Foundation for Educational Research found that teachers who used gardening as part of learning said it helped improve children’s readiness to learn.  The report also revealed that the outdoor classroom encouraged children to become more active in solving problems as well as boosting literacy and numeracy skills.  So if your child’s school doesn’t yet have a garden, perhaps it’s time to lobby for an outdoor classroom facility?