The Outdoor Education Bill

The Outdoor Education Bill

MP for South Devon, Caroline Voaden, has tabled a private members bill called the Outdoor Education bill.

This parliamentary bill asks for mandatory outdoor learning in primary and secondary schools, requiring children to spend at least 30 minutes outside daily, participate in at least one outdoor lesson weekly, and experience outdoor education during their entire schooling. The bill argues the significant mental, physical, and educational benefits of outdoor activities, highlighting research that links outdoor exposure to improved well-being, confidence, and engagement, while addressing disparities faced by children in deprived or urban areas. It calls for integrating outdoor learning across curriculum, expanding outdoor residential trips, and ensuring continued professional development for teachers.

Outdoor Education in Scotland

Scottish Schools Residential Outdoor Education bill came about because schools did not have to provide residential outdoor education. The Bill aimed to ensure that all school pupils in Scotland had the opportunity to participate in four nights and five days of residential outdoor education, with funding provided by the Scottish Ministers. The bill also raised concerns over the decline of outdoor centres.  The Bill was passed on 16 December 2025 and became an Act on 11 February 2026. And has been a significant factor in calls for something similar in England - if Scotland can do it, why not here?

Outdoor Education in England

In England, the Generation Green funding initiative is a programme aimed at engaging young people with outdoor activities, environmental education, and green skills. The first phase, launched through the government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund and supported by Defra and the Heritage Lottery Fund, successfully reached over 100,000 young people through outdoor experiences, training, and employment opportunities. The second phase, which had a £4.5 million grant from Defra, has provided overnight outdoor stays and learning experiences for over 25,000 young people from socially disadvantaged areas. Generation Green has sought to promote environmental awareness, personal development, and opportunities for young people to connect with nature.  The Outdoor Education bill states that the Generation Green funding via DEFRA is not being renewed.

Our Opinion

We have worked with outdoor residential centres in England, Wales and Scotland for over 20 years. The Outdoor Education Bill is a great idea that will ensure children continue to learn and grow through outdoor education. There is plenty of research supporting the idea that spending time outside improves mental health, boosts confidence, and make children more excited about learning.

Giving kids new experiences and helping those from poorer or urban areas have better access to nature and outdoor learning can be life changing. Since setting up our free and bursary section, we have seen a noticeable increase in enquiries from schools in deprived areas. And being able to help support schools that would otherwise not be able to support an outdoor residential trip has been fantastic. The Outdoor Education Bill has the potential to benefit many more children and we look forward to seeing it progress.

The second reading of the Outdoor Education Bill is due on 16th October 2026