School grounds offer a range of learning beyond the classroom opportunities. Early spring is a great time of year to explore the outdoors as plants and wildlife start to emerge from their winter hibernation. Embrace the change in season by building a raised bed for sowing vegetable seeds, plant a new tree or create a pond area to attract wildlife. These activities not only help children connect to nature, but also support learning outcomes, mental wellbeing and increase physical activity.
Read our evidence summary of two reports published by Natural England to find out more about the positive health and learning outcomes that high quality learning outside the classroom (LOtC) in natural environments can deliver.
Small changes can make a big impact
Merrick Denton-Thompson, founding trustee of Learning through Landscapes: 
“School grounds, when reimagined, become safe havens where children can connect with each other, build resilience through hands-on exploration, and discover the calming influence of the natural world.
Over 80% of the curriculum can be taught outdoors. By transforming our school grounds into rich learning environments, we can radically improve attitudes to learning for many children and young people — especially for those of us who prefer to learn through experience.”
Sometimes schools are concerned that their grounds aren’t an interesting or safe enough environment for learning, but most worries can be solved with a few simple changes. Learning through Landscapes share their top tips for making the most of your schools grounds. Visit their website to read to full article on ‘5 ways to develop your school grounds for outdoor learning and play’.
1. Topography
Varied topography stimulates varied play. Mounds, hollows, slopes and tunnels will naturally encourage lots of running, rolling and jumping around. This can encourage children to use their imagination and is great for physical development.
2. Trees, shrubs and grass
Open woodland is one of nature’s richest playgrounds and many schools can easily replicate this kind of space in even a small area of their grounds. Trees and shrubs can ignite the sense, with their many colours, textures and smells. They also provide plenty of natural materials, such as twigs and leaves, for play and learning. Providing children with more opportunities to play in these green environments deepens their connect to nature.
3. Logs and boulders
Fallen trees and boulders can stimulate imaginative play – becoming spaceships or deserted islands. They can also be used to create a den and present a great opportunity for children to use their problem solving skills and overcome physical challenges. It’s an affordable way to make a huge impact.
4. Loose material
Loose materials are a great way to begin enriching play provision in schools (especially if budgets are limited). You can naturally collect certain loose materials directly from your landscape: mud, pebbles, seeds, grass, twigs, leaves, pruned branches and daisies are all brilliant examples of loose and natural materials. These materials stimulate a range of play activities and encourage teamwork and creativity.
5. Large sand play
Large sand play can play a big role in supporting the curriculum. From supporting maths concepts with volume and mass to developing motor skills by jumping and digging. If you don’t have the capacity for an actual sand pit, you could simply designate a dry area of ground that children can use to dig and play.
Find the right support for your educational setting
Our Learning Beyond programme of support for schools is design to build teacher confidence and provide guidance and inspiration to help you take your teaching beyond the classroom. Using your school grounds for learning opportunities can provide a low-cost, sustainable, and accessible way of developing your LOtC practice. We can support you in taking the next step to ensure your LOtC has impact and is fully embedded within the curriculum.
