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Out and About Guidance

This guidance is based around the three QCA questions - What are we trying to achieve?  How do we organise learning? How well are we achieving our aims? 

If you are thinking about 'What are we trying to achieve?' and learning outcomes for young people then you may also need to convince colleagues, parents/carers and others about why learning outside the classroom is so vital for young people.

If you’re thinking about learning outside the classroom across the school setting you may want to bring together other existing policies and create something that sets out how you intend to embed learning outside the classroom.

Part of looking at learning outside the classroom across the school will be to plan learning outside the classroom into your curriculum and think about planning a range of activities for all young people.

If you are working in a non-formal setting such as youth work you will want to plan is based on a clear assessment of young people's needs and supports them in achieving the Every Child Matters outcomes.

Whatever your setting, you will also need to think about planning the experiences and activities (including young people's active involvement) and consider what you need to do beforehand (e.g the practicalities of organising the activity - transport, risk management), and how you will evaluate? 

You will need to think about Practicalities of organising an activity e.g. transport and risk management.

Out and About Continuing Professional Development Modules

In addition to the Out and About guidance materials, a suite of CPD training modules have been produced. You may want to review the TDA Teacher Standards when deciding which CPD module to undertake. There are a number of modules that cater for various professionals ranging from teachers through to local authority EVCs. For trainers of teachers who are going for QTS, then Module 6 Providers and NQT Coordinators: LOtC an Introduction is perhaps most relevant, although Module 1 Teachers: The Learning Experience and Evaluating Impact may also have some significance for you.

For teachers who are on the main scale (Core) Module 1 Teachers: The Learning Experience and Evaluating Impact is perhaps most relevant.

For post-Threshold teachers, Excellent Teachers, or Advanced Skills Teachers who have leading roles in teaching and learning, Module 2, From Curriculum to Compelling Learning might be most appropriate.

For those who have most responsibility for learning outside the classroom, there will be elements in Module 3, Training for Governors, HTs, SMTs: Learning Outside the Classroom — What You Need to Know that may be applicable.

To access the full suite of CPD modules click here.

You may feel you need help and there are colleagues who can provide you with advice and support.

Once you’ve decided what you want to achieve with young people you will find that a vast range of places and activities are available, and you will need to decide on the best time of year for the experience to take place.

Once you’ve undergone a learning experience outside the classroom, you will want to look back with both colleagues and young people and see what differences it has made to their learning — and look into the possibility of planning more activities for next time, following feedback and look at how learning outside the classroom is contributing towards enriching your curriculum.