The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature has published recommendations calling for outdoor learning to be embedded in the curriculum and for all children to experience residential trips.

Three children in a tent reading books during a school camping trip

Source: Pexels

The report says that all children should experience at least one residential or outdoor experience linked to curriculum outcomes at KS2. 

These are just two of the recommendations in a new report which aims to ensure that England’s outdoors becomes more accessible to more people.

Published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Outdoor Recreation and Access to Nature, the report sets out a ‘blueprint for a new world class approach to equitable access’. 

It shares findings that 74% of children now spend less time outdoors each day while screen time is rising with children aged 8-14 spending nearly three hours a day online (smartphones, tablets and computers). 

Stargazing

Source: ING

Opportunities for children should include ‘a night under the stars in a designated landscape’, the APPG group says. 

The recommendations to the government by the group are:

  • Ensure that the Curriculum and Assessment Review, as well as the new Enrichment Framework, reflects that teaching and learning ‘can and should happen ‘beyond’ as well as in the classroom’. It states that teachers should “have the freedom to choose where learning happens and should encourage regular high-quality outdoor experiences at every key stage. 

  • A requirement that all children should experience at least one residential or outdoor experience, linked to curriculum outcomes at KS2. The group adds: “Opportunities should include a night under the stars in a designated landscape…these experiences create lasting positive impacts on behaviour, academic success and overall happiness.”
  • Ongoing investment in the National Education Park. This encourages access to green and blue spaces for all children within their communities. 

The report, which gathered views from more than 750 organisations and individuals, says that a more active and healthy country can be achieved by improving access to England’s natural spaces. It highlights that much of England’s countryside remains inaccessible, with 20 million people not living within 15 minutes of green or blue spaces. 

Teenagers in nature

Source: Unsplash

The group claims that the government has an ’historic opportunity’ to improve access to the great outdoors for everyone. 

The APPG also acknowledges the substantial economic contribution of the outdoor sector; a £25bn+ industry supporting more than 500,000 jobs.

Andy Mcnae MP, chair of the APPG group, said: “Outdoor recreation brings people together, opens up opportunity, builds resilience and improves mental health, particularly amongst young people.

“…with a Government committed to expanding responsible access to nature, we now have an exciting opportunity to create a lasting legacy for the next generation.”

You can read the full report here. 

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