Ufton Court Celebrates Global Outdoor Classroom Day and Global Outdoor Learning Day
Berkshire – Tuesday 5 November, 2024 – Ufton Court Educational Trust, a renowned children’s education charity based in Reading, is excited to celebrate and highlight the benefits of learning outside the classroom this month. As Global Outdoor Classroom Day and Global Outdoor Learning Day approach, Ufton Court is committed to connecting children with nature through its transformative outdoor experiences in the Ufton Outdoors programme.
Extensive research has shown the positive impact of nature-based learning experiences on child development, including improved focus, physical health, and social skills. A study published in Frontiers in Public Health in 2022 also highlighted the socio-emotional, academic, and wellbeing benefits of such programs. Exposure to nature has been proven to build resilience and enhance cognitive skills, particularly through hands-on environmental activities that spark curiosity and creativity. Outdoor learning has also been shown to reduce stress and improve well-being, especially among children from underserved backgrounds.
At Ufton Court, children engage in structured outdoor learning programmes that promote resilience, leadership, and teamwork. With a hands-on, nature-based approach, these programmes go above and beyond traditional classroom instruction and align with national education goals. Highlights of the programme include experiential learning, woodland and nature exploration, survival skills development, and environmental stewardship.
With concerns about children spending less time outdoors than ever, research supports the positive effects of outdoor learning in fostering a lifelong interest in environmental stewardship and well-being. Studies have also shown that spending more time outdoors can help counteract issues like short-sightedness and reduce stress-related impacts, especially in children from urban environments.
Ufton Court’s Head of Education, Kayleigh Forbes, stresses the importance of outdoor learning for a child’s development. “We see children come alive when they explore new environments, challenge themselves, and learn about the world in ways that classroom walls simply cannot provide,” says Forbes. “Childhood is short, if more children could learn our way, we could turn the tide on the 10-year decline in children’s happiness.”
In celebration of Global Outdoor Classroom Day and Global Outdoor Learning Day on November 7 and November 21, Ufton Court invites schools, parents, and communities to embrace these days by encouraging children to step outside, explore, and learn from the natural world around them. To support this, Ufton Court is offering schools and children’s groups 20% off Ufton Outdoors day and extended day visit bookings up to 31st January 2025 that are confirmed before 30th November 2024. For more information about the offer, please email enquiries@uftoncourt.org.uk.
Ufton Court, a historic mansion dating back over 500 years and an established history and outdoor learning centre, is set within 44-acres of ancient woodland. It is one of the South East’s leading providers of residential and day trip programmes for children. These include outdoor learning day and residential visits such as Bushcraft for KS2 and KS3 students and Outdoor Challenge, designed to foster personal growth and teamwork. The centre also offers immersive history school trips linked to the national KS1 and KS2 curriculum, from the Tudors, Saxons, and Ancient Greeks to Stone Age and Prehistory to WW2. Additionally, Ufton Court runs The Nest, a therapeutic alternative learning provision, partnering directly with schools to support small groups of children through a day-a-week, term-time programme. This programme focuses on the holistic development of children’s social, emotional, and physical well-being and learning progress.
Ufton Court is run by The Ufton Court Educational Trust, a children’s experiential education charity that subsidises history and outdoor trips and placements at The Nest for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Through their nature-based approach to learning, Ufton Court’s mission is to turn the tide on the 10-year decline in children’s happiness.
Media Contact:Sanchita Powell / sanchita.ufton@gmail.com
