Evidence

Policy Documents


Outdoor Learning, Practical Guidance Education Scotland (2011)  

Vision 2030+  Scottish Government (2016) 

Taking Learning Outdoors: Partnership for Excellence Learning and Teaching Scotland (2007) 


Out To Play Scottish Government (2020) 

My World Outdoors  Care Inspectorate (2016) 


Scotland's biodiversity:a route map to 2020 Scottish Government (2015) 

Research Documents

The Educational Outcomes of Learning for Sustainability – A brief review of Literature https://www.gov.scot/publications/educational-outcomes-learning-sustainability-brief-review-literature/pages/3/

The use of residential experiences and their impact on attainment – http://learningaway.org.uk/

Improving Social and Emotional skills in children to enhance their learning – Transforming outdoor learning in schools – https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/uploads/production/document/path/7/7634/Transforming_Outdoor_Learning_in_Schools_SCN.pdf

The health benefits of being in green spaces to learn – Natural connections report http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6636651036540928


Meta-analysis of the health benefits of being outdoors. Includes references to research in education establishments https://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/naturalthinking_tcm9-161856.pdf

Pupils social relations, motivation to learn, well being and academic performance in relation to outdoor learning – http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-016-3780-8

Evidence of the relationships between natural environment and range of outcomes – Connections to Nature – http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6636651036540928

Participation in conservation of natural spaces increases health and wellbeing – http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-015-2214-3

Effects of environment based education on students motivation to learn – http://www.seer.org/pages/research/AthmanandMonroeJIR2004.pdf

Three case studies on assessing outdoor learning – http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03004279.2015.1042987

Education Endowment Foundation research on effectiveness of Outdoor Adventure Learning https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/evidence-summaries/teaching-learning-toolkit/outdoor-adventure-learning#closeSignup

School Inspection Reports and the status of Outdoor Learning, Residential experiences and Adventure activities in Scottish Schools https://beamingsimon.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/carnegie-report_web.pdf


Mental health toolkit for schools -Measuring and monitoring children and young people’s mental wellbeing https://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/schools-in-mind/resources-for-schools/mental-health-toolkit-for-schools/

Physically active lessons in schools and their impact on physical activity, educational, health and cognition outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009174351400509X

High quality Outdoor Education Guide (there is a Scottish version but unable to source online download) http://oeapng.info/downloads/download-info/5-1b-2-4f-high-quality-outdoor-education-publication/


Teaching in Nature  Scottish natural Heritage (2011) 

Teaching in Nature - Summary findings University of Stirling (2011)