Moorland Federation Staff and Volunteers Embrace Outdoor Learning Training

Teachers, Learning Support Assistants, and volunteers from across the Moorland Federation took part in an inspiring programme of Outdoor Learning Training, delivered by The Outdoors Group and generously funded through National Lottery Heritage Funding.

Hosted within the beautiful Forest School area at St Dubricius First School in Porlock, the training provided hands-on, practical sessions aimed at building confidence, deepening skills, and embedding outdoor learning as a core element of educational practice across the Federation’s eight schools.

With Exmoor National Park on our doorstep, the Moorland Federation is uniquely placed to use the natural environment as an extended classroom—offering rich, meaningful experiences that support pupils’ wellbeing, curiosity, and connection to nature. The training focused on how to safely and creatively use outdoor spaces to enhance curriculum delivery, while encouraging child-led exploration and learning.

Staff were joined by a number of enthusiastic school volunteers, whose presence was a welcome reminder of the critical role volunteers play in enriching our school communities. Their participation not only strengthens links between schools and families but also ensures a wider pool of support for outdoor initiatives and Forest School programmes.

Naomi Philp, Executive Headteacher for the Moorland Federation

“This training reinforces our commitment to maximising the educational value of the unique landscapes we are privileged to teach within. Outdoor learning is not an ‘extra’—it’s a vital part of how we engage children in our natural world, active  responsible learning, helping our children to feel and be connected to our environment and our communities. We're grateful to the Outdoors Group and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for helping us grow this vision.”

As the Moorland Federation continues to embed outdoor learning across all of its settings, opportunities like this enable staff and volunteers alike to explore how the woodlands, moorland, coastlines and wildlife of Exmoor can enrich and expand the classroom experience for every child.

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