Who are the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC)?

We are a registered charity existing to promote and champion Learning Outside the Classroom so all children and young people can benefit from increased opportunities for high quality and varied educational experiences. The Council took over responsibility for the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto in April 2009.

What do CLOtC do?

The Council champions learning outside the classroom and encourages young people to get out and about because research shows that children learn best through real life experiences.

The Council aims to be the leading voice for learning outside the classroom,

· Influencing and challenging learning outside the classroom policy and practice
· Raising the profile of learning outside the classroom and promoting the benefits
· Providing support for education and LOtC professionals, aiming for high quality learning outside the classroom that meets the needs of young people

How do CLOtC encourage more learning outside the classroom?

The Out and About package was launched in 2008 to support learning outside the classroom through:

· This website provides ‘How to’ guidance designed to help schools and other groups (early years and youth groups for example) get children out and about. For an overview of the website visit Out and About Introduction 

· The Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge: A national benchmark for the provision of educational visits which recognises organisations offering high quality learning experiences and managing risk effectively. For more information visit www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk

Why is learning outside the classroom important?

The Council believes that every child should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability and circumstances.

Young people of all ages benefit from real life “hands on” experiences where they can see, hear, touch and explore the world around them. This enables them to relate what they learn at school to the world around them and is proved to motivate young people, raising attainment and reducing poor behaviour and truancy.

Why should I be interested in membership of CLOtC?

If you believe in the benefits of learning outside the classroom, wish to have your say on policy and best practice and want to help to raise the profile of learning outside the classroom then we need your support.

The more members we have, the louder our voice when championing learning outside the classroom and the more resources we will have to help you in deliver high quality learning outside the classroom experiences.

To download our membership application pack click here.

CLOtC priorities

The Council has the responsibility for taking forward the 14 aims of the Manifesto and, has set out 10 key priorities in its Forward Plan. These are:

· Governance (including set-up)
· Forward planning
· Quality Badge
· Out & About package (website)
· Research and analysis
· Training and support
· Communications
· Influencing
· Partnerships
· Funding

Critical areas of work have already been targeted including raising the profile and advocating the benefits of learning outside the classroom with providers and those organisations applying for the Quality Badge. Attention is now focussed on areas such as carrying out baseline research to enable LOtC trends to be monitored; further developing the out and about package on the website by creating a new flash wizard to guide users through the site; and developing sustainable funding sources to support LOtC.

To read the full Forward Plan click here.