Learning for Sustainability advice and guidance: Outdoor learning

Outdoor learning takes place in both the natural and built environment. The outdoors provides the perfect setting to bring the whole curriculum to life. From daily outdoor play to more adventurous expeditions and residentials, being outdoors enhances all our lives.

Outdoor learning resources

School Grounds in Scotland in 2025 (Play Scotland) report from research led by Professor John McKendrick, and commissioned by Play Scotland, Learning through landscapes, and NatureScot.

Learning through Landscapes is one of the UK’s leading charities working on outdoor learning and play, offering professional learning, advice and guidance.

Going Out There is the Scottish framework for safe practice in off-site visits.

Out to Play Caring for our Outdoor Spaces provides practical advice on making the most of outdoor spaces and caring for the environment through LfS for early learning and childcare practitioners.

Beyond your boundary from NatureScot is a resource for supporting learning in local greenspace.

The Nature Discovery Map Scotland (NatureScot) toolkit is a suite of six map-based tools that have been developed by NatureScot on behalf of Scottish Government and in collaboration with teachers and pupils to help support Learning for Sustainability (LfS).

Outdoor learning policies and documents

Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning (PDF, 1.13MB)

Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning - Gaelic version (PDF, 2.13MB)

Learning for Sustainability in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) | SCDE

Practical guidance, ideas and support for teachers and practitioners in Scotland (PDF, 2.34MB)

Scotland’s Coalition for Outdoor Play and Learning Position Statement (inspiringscotland.org)

Out to Play: practical guidance on creating outdoor play experiences (gov.scot)

Out to Play: Caring for Our Outdoor Spaces (gov.scot)

Space to Grow: Design guidance for early learning and childcare (gov.scot)

The Suitability Core Fact: Building Better Schools (gov.scot)

Outdoor Learning Briefing Paper (Policy Scotland)

Building Your Curriculum reflection tool (PDF, 298KB)

Successful Approaches to Learning Outdoors

Research

Connect parent/carers survey Learning for Sustainability Findings Report

Teaching, learning and play in the outdoors: a survey of provision in Scotland (nature.scot)

Learning for Sustainability and outdoor learning policy briefings (Glow blog)

The use of residential experiences and their impact on attainment (learningaway.org)

Natural Connections Demonstration Project: Final report and (analysisnaturalengland.org)

Outdoor learning in Scottish education

NatureScot: Learning in local greenspace

Professional learning

Teaching Learning Outdoors online professional learning course
To access this course, please select the link and then log in or register for Education Scotland’s Professional Learning website (see options in the top right of your screen). Once logged in via Glow or your email address, select the Self-directed professional learning option then the tile marked Professional learning Activities (PLA). Type Teaching learning outdoors into the search box to locate and start the course.

Supporting Learning Outdoors online professional learning course