FEATURE FOCUS: OUTDOOR LEARNING
Nurturing the next generation of leaders through outdoor and creative learning
headmaster Andrew Earnshaw explains what benefits these initiatives can bring now and in later life.
With the impact of Covid-19 still being felt by young people, outdoor and creative learning is an effective way to improve their wellbeing and help them develop leadership skills. Fairfield Prep School, part of Loughborough Schools Foundation, has been putting all this into practice with its Forest School, yoga and other activities. In our final feature this month on outdoor learning,
It’s no secret that being outdoors can have tremendous mental health benefits. Participating in sports or taking a walk among nature can clear our minds, reduce stress and promote new ways of thinking. Children benefit from this just as much as adults, and it’s essential that they can develop those all-important life skills that they may have missed out on during the pandemic. The beauty of outdoor and creative learning is that pupils are able to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations through child-initiated play, such as building shelters and creating patterns in the mud kitchen. By taking the lead in their own activity and enjoyment, they learn to think critically and independently, while forming essential life skills that will serve them well as they grow and follow their chosen path. At Fairfield Prep, our approach has not only meant that our pupils have fun while learning, also vital for their wellbeing, but it lays the foundations for building lifelong skills. By providing hands-on experiences that focus on skills such as risk management, collaboration, independent thinking, problem-solving and
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physical activity, children are given the tools they need to become confident, empathetic and empowered leaders and team players. Our Forest School, yoga and play bags initiatives, in addition to the dough gym, animal visitors, hatching chicks and wildlife observation are all integral to our environment. These experiences provide a well-rounded education outside of the traditional classroom that fosters a love of learning, exploration, creativity, and a deeper connection to the natural world. Within the education sector, we know we’re still recovering from the pandemic and the challenges, like stress and social development, that were inadvertently brought upon our pupils. But in order to overcome these hurdles, I’m encouraging our teachers, and others across the sector, to embrace outdoor learning; a mindset which could reduce children’s stress levels by 28 per cent.
Forest School
The Forest School programme at Fairfield Prep School not only enriches the pupils’ academic knowledge but also teaches them the important message of protecting the world around them. The programme goes beyond conventional teaching methods and, instead, encourages
May 2023
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