How does outdoors learning help children learn in key stage 2 - Essay Example

Outdoor learning seemed to have many barriers that faced both students as well as teachers. One of the major factors was fear and confidence in the teaching – learning process outdoors because of the many tragedies that had taken place in the past. ‘A number of well-publicized accidents involving school children", which have contributed towards overshadowing "the educational benefits of the off-site and outdoor classroom" (Thomas, 1999, p 131).Concern has also arisen in relation to farm visits, following a civil court case concerning a child contracting an E.

coli infection during an organized school visit to an "Open" farm in 1997 (Richardson, 2000) The Welsh Assembly Government is of the opinion that every school has good scope of improving itself and making a success of it. In the distinctive support of their improvement program called ‘The Learning Country’ the direction is focused towards “evidence based, locally managed and professionally valid.” (www.betterwales.com) In support of the personal and social education (PSE) (National Assembly for Wales Circular 13/2003) contained in the curriculum, appropriate outdoor training is emphasized reflecting the message of racial equality as contained in the McPherson Report.

The PSE framework was supported and issued by the ACCAC in Sept. 2000 which aimed at encouraging pupils to become active citizens through fieldtrips and learning outdoors and becoming responsible by sharing and helping each other as a small community. Another aim of the Government is to “support schools in the implementation of the ACCAC framework for work related education for 14 – 19 year olds” (ACCAC, 2000) in trying to prepare the students for life in a diverse society. With regard to children’s health and safety involving outdoor learning and other extra – curricular activities the Government is lending their support by funding such projects and making use of the best trained