Growing Outdoor Learning in Cheshire & Warrington
What is it?
Growing Outdoor Learning in Cheshire & Warrington is a county-wide education and nature connection initiative designed to scale high-quality outdoor learning and Forest School practice across every primary and pre-school setting in Cheshire and Warrington over an 18–24 month period.
The programme combines headteacher advocacy, professional communications, system-wide training and partnership delivery to embed outdoor learning into the weekly curriculum rather than treating it as an optional extra.
The initiative will equip schools, teachers and early years settings with the confidence, skills and practical tools needed to integrate outdoor learning into everyday education. The programme is designed to improve attainment, wellbeing, attendance, behaviour and long-term connection to nature while also supporting wider health and environmental priorities.
Why is this needed? / Why are we doing this?
A growing body of UK and international research demonstrates that regular outdoor learning improves emotional wellbeing, resilience, behaviour, attendance, collaboration and academic performance.
Despite this evidence, many schools still lack the confidence, training, leadership buy-in or resources needed to embed outdoor learning into the curriculum consistently. At the same time, increasing mental health pressures, inequality in access to green space and reduced connection to nature are affecting children and young people across Cheshire and Warrington.
This programme has been developed to create system-wide cultural change, ensuring that outdoor learning becomes a normal and accessible part of education across the region.
What is it going to deliver?
The programme will deliver:
- Headteacher-led Advocacy and Culture Change
- A high-profile promotional event featuring more than 12 headteachers
- Professionally produced film and digital communications resources
- Leadership engagement with governors, MAT leaders and policymakers
Estimated Cost:
£350,000 (Over 12-18 Months)
Project Location:
Across Cheshire and Warrington.
Area Covered:
County-wide programme reaching primary and pre-school settings across Cheshire and Warrington.
Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Warrington.
18–24 months initial delivery period with long-term system change ambitions.
Cheshire West and Chester Council, Edsential, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Specialist outdoor learning providers.
Why Invest Now?
- Strong evidence base demonstrating educational and wellbeing impact
- Increasing demand for preventative health and wellbeing approaches
- Growing national focus on nature connection and outdoor learning
- Opportunity to create system-wide educational culture change
- Strong alignment with LNRS, health and education priorities
- Long-term preventative value for public services and communities
County-wide Outdoor Learning Partnership
The ambition is for every primary and pre-school in Cheshire and Warrington to understand, explore and access outdoor learning opportunities.
A coordinated partnership involving:
- Cheshire West and Chester Council
- Edsential
- Cheshire Wildlife Trust
- Specialist outdoor learning providers
The partnership will coordinate:
- Training pathways
- Resource sharing
- Peer-learning networks
- Risk-managed delivery approaches
- Capacity building across schools
Training and Support
Over 18–24 months the programme will provide:
- Entry-level and advanced outdoor learning training
- Curriculum-aligned teaching resources
- Support for schools with limited green space
- Forest School and outdoor learning development
- Exemplar school networks
- Support reaching thousands of pupils and hundreds of staff
Impact and Returns:
Education & Wellbeing Returns
Research evidence linked to outdoor learning demonstrates:
- Improved behaviour, mood and cooperation
- Increased resilience and emotional regulation
- Improved academic attainment
- Better attendance and engagement
- Enhanced school readiness and concentration
- Improved physical activity and healthier lifestyles
The programme also supports mental health resilience at a time when approximately 1 in 5 children in England has a probable mental health condition.
Evaluation & Demonstrating Impact
The initiative will include a proportionate local evaluation framework measuring:
- Time outdoors
- Attendance and engagement
- Wellbeing indicators
- Parent and practitioner feedback
- Participation from priority neighbourhoods
- Improvements to local green space
- Repeat participation and community engagement
- Environmental enhancement through before-and-after evidence
Environmental & Nature Connection Returns
- Increased access to nature for children and families
- Stronger long-term environmental stewardship
- Greater connection between young people and the natural environment
- Increased use and understanding of green infrastructure
Social & Strategic Returns
- Helps address inequalities in access to green space
- Reduces long-term pressure on public services
- Supports healthier and more sustainable places
- Creates a county-wide culture of nature-based learning
LNRS Priorities and Actions / LNP Goals:
The programme directly supports the Cheshire & Warrington Local Nature Recovery Strategy through:
- Increasing connection between people and nature
- Supporting nature-based solutions
- Mainstreaming nature recovery into education and community settings
- Supporting healthier and greener places
This project aligns with the following Cheshire Local Nature Partnership goals:
Goal One
Increase contribution of nature-based solutions to address the ecological and climate crises.
Goal Two
Increase connection between people and nature including raising awareness of nature.
Goal Four
Mainstream nature recovery to ensure Cheshire becomes nature positive by 2030.
The initiative also aligns strongly with:
- Health and wellbeing strategies
- Starting Well priorities
- Educational recovery
- Mental health resilience
- Healthy placemaking agendas
GET INVOLVED
Contact the Cheshire Nature Local Partnership
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