This item has been written by the Project Manager for the Natural Connections Demonstration Project as an article introducing the project. It may be of interest to those visitors who are directly involved with learning in a natural environment, particularly in the South West where the project is based (Webmaster).
An Introduction by Ian Blackwell
Despite increasingly robust evidence on the benefits of childhood experiences in natural environments, recent surveys show that the vast majority of our children are rapidly losing connection with their local natural environments, and that those children from urban environments are particularly disadvantaged. The pace of change is profound and undoubtedly contributing to major challenges facing society today – including the rise in childhood obesity and mental health issues, the struggle to build a sense of place and community, and the need to address climate change and develop pro-environmental behaviours.
Evidence also shows that learning in natural environments can transform individual and school performance by increasing the standards of teaching and learning, allowing innovation, creativity and excellence in curriculum delivery, as well as increasing motivation and attainment. Economic assessments indicate that failure to act quickly will result in major educational, health and environmental costs in the near future. Of course, none of this will be a surprise to Forest School Association members.
In response to this growing body of evidence, the Natural Connections Demonstration Project has been set up. The Project, funded by DEFRA, Natural England and English Heritage, and recently contracted to Plymouth University, is one of the largest outdoor learning projects in the UK. This three year Project, working in more than 200 schools across the South West, aims to significantly increase the number of school-aged children experiencing the full range of benefits that come from learning in natural environments (LINE). The three main objectives are:
- to stimulate the demand from schools and teachers for learning in natural environments (LINE)
- to support schools and teachers in building LINE into their planning and practices
- to stimulate the supply of high quality LINE services for schools and teachers.
The Project is working in five areas of relatively high deprivation: Plymouth, Torbay, Cornwall, North Somerset and Bristol, so around 40 schools directly involved in each area. In addition the Project will work with hundreds of local volunteers to help communities build capacity in their school, while enabling the school to engage the skills and expertise available in the local community. Take a look at www.naturalengland.org.uk and search for ‘natural connections’.
Natural Connections focuses upon creating strong hubs, with Beacon schools at the centre, to lead the growth of LINE activities across the local area. These Beacon Schools, with support from Plymouth University and the Hub Leader, will then target primary and secondary schools that currently provide little or no outdoor learning.
Each Hub is supported through four main central elements:
- A brokerage system to link up schools that are already experienced in teaching and learning outside the classroom with schools that are not. This also includes significant support for professional development (both teachers and providers).
- A dedicated web service to support school’s easy access to suitable local green spaces and activities, to encourage the interchange of ideas and resources, and to link to other valuable LINE websites.
- A volunteering support system to increase volunteers’ skills in supporting school-based learning in natural environments.
- A research and evaluation arm to keep track of the processes and outcomes, so that future practice and scaling up in other regions is well informed and rigorously evaluated.
The emphasis is on a ‘needs-led’ approach: activities are therefore designed and delivered based on the needs, priorities and interests of schools, pupils and teachers. It is also worth noting that Natural Connections is looking to support teaching and learning across the curriculum and across the Key Stages, from scientific experiments to literacy, from creative arts to maths – the Project is about encouraging schools to experience and recognise the benefits that their local natural environment can have in supporting curriculum delivery, learning and school priorities (we are not focusing on learning about the natural environment but in the natural environment).
Also, as a Demonstration Project with a considerable emphasis on evaluation and replicability, there will be a good deal of interest from across the UK and abroad on what approaches we are taking and how the project works in practice on the ground. We are keen to share our experiences and will be using various means to communicate our work over the next three years, for example through a monthly newsletter, conference presentations, meetings and newsletter items such as this.
As one of our main objectives is to support LINE providers, we are keen to involve FSA members in Natural Connections. If you would like to know more or want to be involved, please feel free to contact:
- Helen Lawson helen.lawson@plymouth.ac.uk (to register an interest as a provider to schools)
- Emily Cannon emily.cannon@plymouth.ac.uk (for more information about volunteering)
- Ian Blackwell ian.blackwell@plymouth.ac.uk (Project Manager; CPD, communications & sustainability)
