Taking the Class Outside Posted on 16 March 2016 by Tom - Kent-Teach in General With Spring almost upon us, there are more opportunities to get out of the classroom and make good use of Kent’s beautiful countryside! Not only are there potential benefits to children’s education, creativity and wellbeing by teaching outside, but also taking a teaching outdoors course in Kent can really boost your teaching credentials and contribute to your continuing professional development!Through changing the learning environment from a stuffy classroom to a nice garden or a rolling field, teachers have seen improvements in student motivation and a drop in low level disruption. Outdoor learning can take many forms. For example, creating a small nature reserve on the school grounds can demonstrate the importance of preserving the environment and can also assist in the pupils’ understanding of geography and biology.Setting up a school farm is another option and the School Farms Network offers support and assistance to schools which already have a farm or wish to create one. The Network has identified a range of benefits to schools which have a farm on their grounds. Schools with farms have experienced a growth in attendance as well as increased staff retention, improvements in overall behaviour, and have encouraged pupils to take on responsibilities in all areas of their education. Also, students who can observe the growing of food first hand on a regular basis have been found to take an increased interest in their overall health and diet. Another way to harness the benefits of outdoor teaching is Forest School. These can offer an exciting way to teach your class and can furnish your pupils with important life skills and a love for the Great Outdoors!For teachers who wish to expand their horizons, Kent County Council offers a range of courses, including Forest School Training, INSET courses on outdoor teaching, and First Aid Training. Teachers can learn skills that will enable them to become an expert in outdoor teaching and teach their pupils in one of Kent’s Forest Schools which are spread across the county. A guide to Kent’s Forest Schools can be found here so you can find the best one in your area.Let us know your thoughts on outdoor teaching!