Use of outdoors can help schools and education to recover

Rugby Liberal Democrats are proposing six ways to help schools respond to a new way of working following the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic has made many people think again about the relationship between nature, open spaces, and our communities. Liberal Democrats believe that new thinking about what we want from education is now possible and the informal, practical learning in forest schools should be a major way forward.

The idea comes from the Forest School Association who exist to offer all learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.

The Liberal Democrats six proposals involve:

1. Well-being should be at the heart of our schools - the pressures of constant internal assessment must end with a refocus on children enjoying learning and being happy. Schools need to be aware of the damage a stressful environment does to children and make real and concerted efforts to make schools less stressful.
2. Teachers, who are continuing to step up as key workers in many cases, must be trusted to teach and inspire children - continual monitoring within schools has not raised standards but has lowered morale, achievement, and enjoyment.
3. Make all our schools part of and responsive to their local community - one of the positives of this terrible crisis has been communities coming together and supporting one another. Schools should look to engage fully with the local community and involve them in aspects of school life.
4. Involve parents more - parents have been involved in their children's education as never before during this pandemic. When it is safe for more children to go back to school, we must not lose this home/school engagement.
5. Engage with nature more - many people have engaged with the wonders of nature far more in Liverpool's marvellous parks on their daily exercise and enjoying the beauty of spring when life has been stressful and anxious. Schools should make engaging with nature a priority, growing plants, having an allotment and organising visits to the countryside.
6. A forest school in every major green area or park - deal with the increasing numbers of children by providing forest schools, where children spend much of their time outdoors and develop empathy for nature. Every child should be given the opportunity to spend time there, which would assist with the issues of overcrowded classrooms.