A KEIGHLEY school has welcomed a government Minister to the town to showcase its award-winning Outdoor Learning Centre.
Eastwood Community School hosted Minister for the Natural Environment, Trudy Harrison and the town’s MP Robbie Moore, who met with pupils and staff to learn more about their centre and their approach to teaching students about our environment and the great outdoors.
Located on Victoria Avenue, Eastwood Community School received national recognition for its commitment to taking learning outside the classroom, being awarded the national Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Mark (Gold) in 2021, the highest award of its kind.
Staff at the school say the Outdoor Learning Centre allows the school to offer a host of outdoor activities to pupils, saying:
“Seeing children working in a different and unusual way outside can have huge positive effects back inside the classroom. The children hold themselves in higher esteem because they have been learning in an environment that has enabled and challenged them to be successful.”
The visit from Minister Harrison was part of celebrating the environmental awareness of local schools and supporting the government’s 25 year Environmental Improvement Plan, which commits to ensuring that “learning in and about nature happens at every level of education.”
It has been widely proven that regular contact with nature makes children healthier, happier, and better able to learn. A 2021 poll, commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts, revealed that 75% of UK adults believe children do not spend enough time outdoors enjoying the natural world, and 72% believe that in school, children should spend more time learning and playing outside in a natural setting.
Speaking after the visit, local MP, Robbie Moore said:
“We know that learning outside the classroom can have extremely positive impacts on children's health and wellbeing, providing some of the most valuable and memorable experiences in a young persons school life.
That’s why I was thrilled to see how Eastwood Community School have embraced outdoor learning as a core part of their curriculum, and their achievement of LOtC Gold shows their leadership in providing valuable outdoor learning experiences to all students.
The government' Environmental Improvement Plan emphasises the importance of nature-based learning, and it's fantastic to witness schools like Eastwood contributing to this national vision.
A huge thank you to the hardworking staff and students at Eastwood for hosting Minister Harrison and I - the positive impact you are having on our community is exemplary.”
