Pupils at Fairfield Preparatory School are taking their learning outside thanks to an initiative that is revolutionising the school day. Forest school leader Alex Carter explains

"Forest learning" was coined in the early 20th century, by HL Russell at the University of Wisconsin in America. By the 1950s, Russell's concept of taking lessons outside of the classroom had been embraced by education institutions across Northern Europe, where it has since become embedded in the early years learning of a number of countries, most notably Denmark and Sweden.

This approach to teaching struck me as a really exciting way to engage children, in part inspired by my experiences as a qualified mountain leader. I have seen first-hand how much children learn from expeditions abroad, and whether it is trekking, climbing or environmental protection, it is a learning style worth investing in as environmental awareness and sustainability becomes more important for our future generations.

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