Michelle Scrogham Highlights Importance Of Outdoor Learning In Schools

Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham has highlighted the value of outdoor education, calling for greater opportunities for children to learn through nature and practical experiences.

Outdoor learning provides pupils with opportunities to develop knowledge and skills in environments beyond traditional classrooms. Activities involving nature, wildlife and the wider environment can help children understand subjects through direct experience, while also encouraging curiosity, creativity and independent thinking. Supporters believe these experiences can complement classroom teaching and make education more engaging for young people with different learning needs and interests.

The importance of outdoor education has also attracted growing attention from organisations working to improve children's access to nature. Educational activities outside the classroom can include exploring local habitats, environmental projects, practical science lessons and activities designed to develop teamwork. Such experiences can help pupils build confidence, communication skills and a stronger understanding of the natural world around them.

Scrogham's interest in the subject reflects wider discussions about ensuring that outdoor learning is accessible to children from different backgrounds. Access to suitable outdoor facilities, trained staff and financial resources can influence whether schools are able to provide regular activities beyond the classroom. Schools in disadvantaged communities may face additional barriers, making support and investment important considerations.

The wider debate has also been supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Outdoor Learning, which has examined participation and inequalities in access to outdoor education. Its report, Outdoor Learning: Access and Equity – Participation, Barriers and Opportunities, highlights the need to ensure that children and young people can benefit from these experiences regardless of their personal or family circumstances.

Outdoor education can also contribute to children's understanding of environmental responsibility. Learning about wildlife, habitats, biodiversity and climate-related challenges through practical activities can help young people develop a stronger connection with their surroundings. These experiences may encourage pupils to take an interest in conservation and understand how everyday actions can influence the natural environment.

For schools across Barrow and Furness and the wider Cumbria area, outdoor learning also offers opportunities to make use of the region's natural surroundings. Local green spaces, countryside and coastal environments can provide valuable settings for educational activities, giving pupils opportunities to explore subjects through practical observation and participation.

However, expanding outdoor education requires more than access to suitable locations. Schools need appropriate resources, staff training and arrangements to ensure activities are safe, inclusive and linked to educational objectives. Improving access for pupils with additional needs and those who may face financial or practical barriers is also an important part of making outdoor learning available to everyone.

The discussion comes amid wider efforts to strengthen the role of outdoor education in the national curriculum and improve opportunities for young people to experience learning outside school buildings. Greater collaboration between schools, charities, environmental organisations and policymakers could help address existing barriers and make outdoor learning a more regular part of children's education.

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