Schools in Hersham are expanding outdoor learning this term, with more lessons planned in gardens, playgrounds and nearby green spaces. The aim is to make outdoor work a regular part of the timetable rather than an occasional activity reserved for sunny days or special events.
Learning beyond the classroom walls
Teachers are preparing activities that connect outdoor spaces with subjects already taught in class. Younger pupils may measure rainfall, identify insects or use natural objects for counting and pattern work. Older groups will collect local environmental data, write field notes and study how public spaces are designed and maintained.
The approach is not limited to science. Reading circles, sketching, local history walks and practical mathematics can all take place outside. Schools say the change gives pupils a different way to engage with familiar material, particularly those who benefit from movement, observation and hands-on tasks.
Planning for weather and accessibility
Outdoor learning in Britain requires realistic preparation. Staff are creating wet-weather alternatives, covered work areas and clear clothing guidance for families. Sessions will be shorter during very cold conditions, while hot-weather plans include shade, water breaks and adjusted activity times.
Accessibility is also part of the planning. Schools are reviewing path surfaces, seating and the distance between facilities so that pupils with mobility or sensory needs can participate. Activities will offer different roles, allowing children to record results, take photographs, handle equipment or present findings according to their strengths.
Community knowledge supports the programme
Parents, gardeners and local environmental volunteers are being invited to contribute practical knowledge. Guest sessions could cover composting, bird identification, pollinating plants and the history of nearby waterways. Safeguarding rules remain unchanged, and all visitors will work under school supervision.
Each school will evaluate the programme through pupil feedback, attendance patterns and examples of completed work. Teachers will also record which activities genuinely support the curriculum and which require revision. The goal is not to move every lesson outdoors, but to use the local environment when it offers a clearer or more memorable way to learn.
Families will receive term-by-term information about planned activities and any equipment pupils need. Most materials will be supplied by schools, with spare outdoor clothing available where possible. By building the programme gradually, schools hope to create an approach that is practical, inclusive and sustainable throughout the academic year.
Schools are also exploring shared equipment libraries so families are not expected to buy specialist clothing or tools. Donations will be checked for safety, cleaned and offered discreetly through existing school support arrangements.