Outdoor Learning is an integral part of our curriculum at Oaklands. We know that there are huge benefits to be had from getting outside regularly including improvements in health and wellbeing, increased focus and engagement in learning, appreciation of the natural world and of course just the pure joy of being outside and having fun.

All pupils have regular opportunities to take learning and play outside every week. We have some great accessible outdoor spaces including an allotment and polytunnel, 2 gazebos, the woods, several playgrounds and a wildlife area and pond. We also like to get out into local natural spaces including parks, playgrounds and beaches. We love to use the beach wheelchairs at Portobello and North Berwick! We also go further afield. We have been out exploring wheelchair accessible routes in the Pentlands and this year took a group of Secondary pupils on a residential week at Lagganlia in the Cairngorms, one of the City of Edinburgh Council’s outdoor education centres.

Pupils from S3 upwards work toward their Duke of Edinburgh Award (see also the DofE page) which includes an Expedition element during which pupils spend several days in wild and natural spaces. So far two groups have completed their Bronze DofE including the Expedition element and we now have a group working towards Silver.

We love to celebrate Outdoor Learning and we have an annual Outdoor Learning Week in May. This year we linked in with a local festival and themed our Outdoor Learning Week around this. See below for a video showing some of the highlights from this year.