National Curriculum Outdoors - a complete scheme of work
Overview and introduction
The National Curriculum Outdoors series features books for KS1, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, and Year 6, offering research-based, objective-led schemes of work for each year group.
These resources provide comprehensive learning opportunities across Key Stages 1 and 2, aligning activities with the National Curriculum programmes of study and school expectations. This structure ensures progression in knowledge, understanding, and skills, allowing both children and teachers to reap the health and well-being benefits of learning in natural environments.
The progression lesson plans cover English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Art and Design, Design and Technology, Music, French (at KS2), and RE. Each plan has been written to promote continuity and growth across key stages, providing a solid framework for children’s learning while helping primary teachers build their confidence in teaching outdoors.
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Have a look inside the books
Check out these sample pages from the e-books:
Key Stage 1: https://bit.ly/3dM4p3q
Year 3: https://bit.ly/2BVSHG5
Year 6: https://bit.ly/2VzIczl
SCC Curriculum Outdoors: https://bit.ly/49Vxc3G
A whole school approach: supporting materials
The 'National Curriculum Outdoors - a complete scheme of work' provides an opportunity for a whole school approach to outdoor learning.
Find the free online resources to use alongside the books, including a year by year curriculum coverage grid, parity grids for both Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence and the new curriculum for Wales, by clicking on the link below.
3 people passionate about outdoor learning
The 'National Curriculum Outdoors - a complete scheme of work'
3 people passionate about outdoor learning come together to produce a resource to help you take your learning outdoors in a meaningful and memorable way.
Bloomsbury's Launch Video for the NCO books
The books have been written by Deborah Lambert, Michelle Roberts and Sue Waite and a foreword written by Juliet Robertson.
As authors, we have many years of experience in practising high quality curriculum-based outdoor learning and the research underpinning such practice.
Find out our thinking behind the books by watching the launch video!
Purchase the books
Purchase Bloomsbury's National Curriculum Outdoors series and find links to other publications to support your outdoor learning journey.
Disclosure: If you buy books linked to our site, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops.
Outdoor Learning Success Stories webinar
The 'National Curriculum Outdoors - a complete scheme of work'
In place of their annual conference, Peninsula Research in Outdoor Learning (PRinOL) held a successful webinar on 27 January 2021 for which authors Sue Waite and Deborah Lambert were the opening speakers. The theme was ‘Success in 2020’ and over 120 people listened to ways we celebrate teaching and learning outdoors.
CLOtC : The National Curriculum Outdoors – Meet the Authors webinar
Recorded: 1 December 2020
Written by outdoor learning experts Sue Waite, Michelle Roberts and Deborah Lambert, this award winning, hugely successful, series of books support teachers in linking curriculum objectives to a progression of outdoor lesson plans for every subject and year group.
At this online session, hear from the authors themselves how the books evolved, the research behind the content, and how educators can use these to develop the outdoor learning at their schools.