Out & About – Learning Outside the Classroom
A new website (www.lotc.org.uk) has recently been launched by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, designed to build upon the success of the Manifesto for Learning Outside the Classroom; a scheme the DCSF announced in November 2006.
The aim of the scheme is to enhance young people’s learning experiences by getting them out and about, and learning!
We believe that every young person should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability or circumstances.
Activities can take part almost anywhere; ranging from the school grounds and other local environments to day visits and residential trips. Not only is the manifesto designed to try and motivate young people and help achieve the Every Child Matters outcomes, but it can be used to combat truancy and school exclusions too.
So what does this mean for supplier’s?
Well, firstly it’s going to mean demand for good quality educational trips, visits & outdoor learning experiences is going to increase, however, suppliers need to do their best to relate any such experiences to specific curriculum areas and try to break down as many of the barriers as possible that often restrict teachers from organising such trips.
This could include providing activity resource packs, not only for pupils whilst on trips, but also including activities for when they return to school. Produce adequate, detailed risk assessments and have available all the necessary information schools are required to gather. But more importantly, provide resources and guideance on how staff can evaluate any activities, and to gauge how successful they were, as this is a key part of the LOtC scheme.
Finally, making trips & visits cross-curricular is a big plus point in the eyes of the school – so where possible, try and incorporate this and ensure you highlight it to staff when they ask.
