St John's Church of England Academy Rationale for Outdoor Learning

At St John's, the wellbeing of everyone involved in school life is of paramount importance to us and we continue to seek ways to ensure our provision has a positive impact on all. We believe that our Outdoor Learning curriculum provision benefits the social and emotional skills, and knowledge and behaviours that our children learn in the school environment can help them to build resilience and set the pattern for how they will manage their mental health throughout their lives. Emotional wellbeing is a clear indicator of academic achievement, success and satisfaction in later life.

Evidence shows that mental health and wellbeing programmes in schools, can lead to significant improvements in children’s mental health, and social and emotional skills. Wellbeing provision in schools can also lead to reductions in low level behaviour in class. (Wise up – Prioritising Wellbeing in School, https://youngminds.org.uk/media/1428/wise-up-prioritising-wellbeing-in-schools.pdf)

The Department for Education has found that, on average, children with higher levels of emotional, behavioural, social and school wellbeing, had higher levels of academic achievement and were more engaged in school. (Gutman, L. & Vorhaus, J (2012). The Impact of Pupil Behaviour and Wellbeing on Educational Outcomes. DfE https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-impact-of-pupil-behaviour-and-wellbeing-on-educational-outcomes)

Outdoor learning for Spring 1 started with all years groups exploring emotions and feelings through RHE links. They created 'leaf people' who helped them to think about how they might feel in different situations. Year 1 and Year 2 have then taken their Science learning into the outdoors. Whilst Year 3 has focused on Geography and developing the knowledge they are learning in their topic, Going Global.

During Autumn 2, Outdoor Learning continued with children exploring poppies for Remembrance Day, fireworks for Bonfire Night, alongside Science investigating minibeast habitats. Children also explored aspects of History, RHE, School Values and made Christmas star decorations.