We were delighted to see some fantastic coverage on PACEY today about why Early Year practitioners should get involved in Outdoor Classroom Day.

Here’s a sneak peak…

We know that outdoor learning and play has a huge impact on not only children, but teachers, childminders and parents as well. It helps improve health and wellbeing, social skills, imagination, engagement with learning, concentration and behaviour.

The proof is evident across the world:

• Two in three children globally play outside for less than an hour and a half a day – that’s less than the two hour guideline for maximum security prisoners in the US.^*
• Eighty-five per cent of parents believe that their children are more creative when they play without technology. ^**
• Ninety-two per cent of schools agreed that children engaged more with their learning outdoors. ^***
• Learning outside the classroom raises educational standards and that it offers for many their first real contact with the natural environment. ^****

As Early Year practitioners, you know how much children enjoy daily time outdoors. You don’t need the statistics.

You’ve seen it. Felt it. Lived it.

To read the full article, visit PACEY – and don’t forget to share the article afterwards. We need to spread the word about #OutdoorClassroomDay!

And while we have your attention… be sure to SIGN UP for this year’s Outdoor Classroom Day. Let’s reach 1 million children across the nation.

^*Source: Edelman Berland for Unilever, 2016.
^**Source: Edelman Berland for Unilever, 2016.
^*** Source: Learning in the Natural Environment: Review of social and economic benefits and barriers (NECR092), Natural England
^****Source: English Outdoor Council’s Lobbying toolkit