Two boys with clipboards sitting in a tree
Education programmes

Benefits of learning outside the classroom

Learning outside the classroom is about raising young people’s achievement through an organised, powerful approach to learning in which direct experience is of prime importance.

Evidence shows learning outside the classroom is known to contribute significantly to raising standards in education and improving pupils’ personal, social and emotional development. It also has significant benefits for improving wellbeing, cultural and environmental engagement.

Leaves infographic which shows the 5 different learning outcomes

You can read more about these benefits on the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom website

We offer frequent, continuous and progressive visits to the Forest, co-designed with schools to deliver school priorities and national curriculum objectives.

“The impact of weekly sessions at the Heart of England Forest has been dramatic! Our children not only learnt and experienced outdoor learning in a beautiful, unspoilt environment, but also came together as one group; supporting, caring and respecting each other.”
Barbara Andrews, Teaching Assistant, Our Lady's Roman Catholic Primary School
Two pupils pictured by a tree during an English lesson in the Forest

How we work with schools

We work with our partner schools on a long term basis, taking time to understand their needs before working with them to design a bespoke programme to help them meet school development objectives.

Typically our schools visit the Forest termly or half termly with all of their year groups, although we also offer 6 week intensive programmes for whole class or intervention groups.

Each session has a curriculum focus and we work with class teachers to ensure learning in the Forest closely links to classroom learning.

We build progression into the programmes to achieve long term impacts. The overarching objectives vary according to each school’s needs, but often include relationships, achievement, cultural capital and skills for learning.

Over time we help pupils develop the values of resilience, respect, kindness and care - for the environment, themselves and others.

Contact us

Please email info@heartofenglandforest.org or call 01789 778541 if you would like to find out more about how we could work together. 

Head and shoulders photo of Elaine Skates, Head of Learning and Skills
Elaine Skates
Director of Learning and Skills
Head and shoulders photo of Philip Stickley, Outdoor Teacher
Philip Stickley
Senior Outdoor Teacher