Marlborough House School, Kent
Sarah Dodds of Marlborough House School, Kent, waxes lyrical about the benefits of outdoor education, whatever the season
With the autumn term now upon us, those seaside picnics and afternoons spent paddling in the shallows of cool streams can seem like distant memories. Bottling that feeling of carefree days spent outdoors in a Blyton-like idyll should sustain us through the colder months ahead, but I believe the outdoors has a crucial part to play, no matter what time of year it is.
Outdoor learning isn?t just about children getting fresh air and exercise in between lessons. Nature ignites passion, inspiration, curiosity and purpose, and it plays a crucial role in the cognitive, emotional and physical development of children.  Dr Amanda Lloyd, a leading researcher and advocate of outdoor learning says of children who have taken their curriculum into the outdoors: ?Their oral skills and vocabulary improved because they weren?t scared to practise them in an informal environment.”
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“They were more focused, more engaged and on task because it had real-world meaning.? Incorporating mindfulness into the school day and even teaching meditation can also improve children?s attention spans, help them to control their emotions and make more balanced decisions, in class and on a sports field.
Working together outdoors, children are able to put their own ideas into practise. It takes them from...