Aug 10, 2024 | Whole School
Advice note for hard-working educators and partner providers of outdoor learning and play: This list can appear overwhelming. Not every document is relevant for your day-to-day work with children and young people. Neither is this put together as a reading list. I put...
Jul 21, 2024 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
‘In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity, and the possibility of discovery, are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it.” Simon Nicholson In 1971, Simon Nicholson wrote an article in a Landscape Architecture journal...
Jul 3, 2024 | Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Early Years Outdoors, Personal & Holidays, Whole School
Yesterday was a special day. I was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Education, Honoris Causa, from Queen Margaret University (QMU). This was an unexpected delight – to the point where I fell off the swing I was sitting on in a park when the original...
May 31, 2024 | Whole School
When training or working with schools, I am often asked about different award schemes or accreditations. Or more to the point, school staff usually inform me that they are going for X award or Y status. A quirk of outdoor learning is the sheer abundance of awards to...
Mar 28, 2024 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
I first blogged about this matter in March 2009 and then again in 2014. This is now the fifth update as Public Health Scotland have updated their guidance in March 2024. It is now called Health Protection in Children and Young People Settings, including Education....
Mar 22, 2024 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
Important note: The aim of this post is to clarify some of the terms used and to help practitioners create their own routines and procedures. However, always seek guidance from your regulatory bodies, local authority and environmental health officer in the first...
Mar 1, 2024 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning, Whole School
Several years ago, I spent a day at Dunblane Nature Kindergarten. It was an opportunity to share thinking and enjoy celebrating the journey of this childcare setting that values nature pedagogy and all that this encompasses. This blog post captures a process of change...
Nov 27, 2023 | Whole School
Since the beginning of the new school year, Mairi Thomson and Mark Irwin, who both work for Education Scotland have been organising and running a series of webinars on a huge range of outdoor themes and subjects. There are more planned for 2021. My intention is to add...
Oct 3, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning, Whole School
Today, the Early Learning and Childcare Directorate published Caring for Our Outdoor Spaces as part of their Out to Play series. This is a hefty document that is not designed to be read from cover-to-cover but to dip into as needed. In order to save practitioners...
Aug 15, 2023 | Health & Wellbeing, Whole School
All over Scotland, children are gearing up for their first few days back at school. So are the teachers. I always used to be a bag of nerves on my first day back, even when working in small schools and having the same children. However, reading a few books about...
Apr 24, 2023 | Community Involvement, Whole School
Outdoor Classroom Day is fast approaching – Thursday 18th May. Naturally every day is a good day for learning and play outside but having a special day to celebrate the value of getting outside, is not to be missed. Here’s ten reasons to get...
Apr 1, 2023 | Whole School
After months of hard work, Juliet is delighted to let you know about her latest course – CAVE School (trademark pending). This is a truly unique course, both within the UK and internationally. This is the only CAVE School qualification of its kind...
Feb 15, 2023 | RME Outdoors, Whole School
As a Scottish primary teacher, I have to teach Religious and Moral Education which includes learning about other religions, not simply Christianity. Often people wonder how religious education can undertaken outdoors. It is easy to forget that the main world...
Feb 13, 2023 | Health & Wellbeing, RME Outdoors, Whole School
I have noticed that if children of all ages are given enough time to freely play in a natural setting, then at some point, they will sit or stand and just be for a while. They seem to tune into the environment, the sights, sounds, smells and feelings. I tend not to...
Feb 5, 2023 | Gardening, Nature Play & Learning, RME Outdoors, Whole School
When the crocus appears, it’s a positive indication that spring is on its way. Snowdrop is the lead flower in letting us know that winter’s days are numbered. But crocus is the follower that affirms the decision of snowdrop to rear its head above the snow....
Feb 2, 2023 | Whole School
This post has been written to support the GRANTS page. It is written in good faith but much of it is down to personal experience and opinion. For expert advice then seek a person with professional fundraising expertise to assist you. A useful book to buy is The...
Jan 19, 2023 | Health & Wellbeing, Social Subjects Outdoors, Whole School
In Scotland we have Curriculum for Excellence Through Outdoor Learning. This document is integral to our curriculum. The three overarching statements summarise the expectations: “Our vision for outdoor learning in Scotland is that: All children and young people...
Dec 29, 2022 | Early Years Outdoors, Whole School
A new year and new adventures. So, it’s back to school or nursery and with this comes the excitement of a new year and new beginnings. Whilst we make personal resolutions, perhaps it is time to make the most of this tradition and apply it in a reflective way to...
Dec 21, 2022 | Community Involvement, Health & Wellbeing, Whole School
Whenever there is snow, I’ve found myself jumping from one side of the fence to another over outdoor matters. I’ve had queries from schools and teachers who’ve received complaints from parents because they’ve allowed children outside when...
Dec 20, 2022 | Whole School
Often it’s not the big ideas that cause controversy but small decisions or actions that are seen to Really Matter to a group of people, be they children, parents, staff or the wider establishment. And wet breaks are one of those – to have or to have not?...
