Debate contribution: Curriculum Mainstreaming and Strategy for Outdoor Learning in Schools

Debate contribution by Mrs Cathy Mason on 24 November 2025.

MLA

Mrs Cathy Mason

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

24 November 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Committee Business

Heading

Curriculum Mainstreaming and Strategy for Outdoor Learning in Schools

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5254022

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.

I welcome the opportunity to make a winding-up speech on this motion from the Education Committee. I am not quite sure that I would have foreseen that we would be discussing the Norman invasion, culchies and townies, Bear Grylls and air rifles, but I suppose that that shows the impact that outdoor learning can have on a child's imagination. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to attend a Playboard conference, entitled "School Age Childcare: The Journey — The Future". The conference brought together practitioners, educators, leaders and providers from across the play-based school-age sector, including the forest school leaders, who had us lighting fires, sawing pieces of wood and hammering nails. I am not quite sure that I channelled my inner Bear Grylls, but I certainly got my hands dirty. It really was a welcome step outside, offering a breath of fresh air. You can imagine the impact that that would have on children who are in a classroom all day. Part of the focus of that conference was on play-based learning, engaging with how a play-based curriculum can help raise children and young people's educational outcomes. The view amongst the sector that day was very clear: there is an overwhelming need for outdoor play-based learning in our education system. As we in the Committee have seen for ourselves, outdoor learning is great for children's mental health and well-being. Fresh air and natural sunlight; what more could you need? In that regard, Cara Hunter specifically mentioned resilience, school attendance and regulation. The freedom to move and explore stimulates curiosity and interest, allowing children and young people to explore, investigate and ask questions about the world around them. Colin McGrath, who is no longer in the Chamber, mentioned two great examples of that in my constituency. It is disheartening that we no longer have the Ardnabannon site and that the Tollymore centre is now under threat. Taking classroom learning to the outside world makes subjects that are normally found only in a textbook come to life. The learnings of science, maths or geography can come to life right in front of our eyes. Learning should be immersive and engaging and should, of course, stimulate curiosity and interest.

Absolutely, I agree with that. We have so many community and voluntary organisations that are willing to step in and help to aid young people's education, and that is really important. Outdoor play and learning introduces new challenges that encourage risk-taking in safe ways and supports independent play, whilst also prompting classmates to collaborate, explore together, share ideas and knowledge, and enhance their social skills, as Michelle Guy mentioned. When students have the ability to work through obstacles, they strengthen their independence and resilience, and that lays the groundwork for the confidence that is needed in order to handle tough situations later in life. We have seen great examples of that in many of our schools, and Gary Middleton mentioned the great example in his children's school. Children need physical space, however, but they also need the time to enjoy it. Jon Burrows mentioned that the ongoing curriculum review presents an opportunity to allow that to happen, but schools need the resources to do that. We must now see the development of an outdoor learning in schools strategy in conjunction with the sector in order to give our children and young people the very best start to their educational pathway. There is a broad consensus. David Brooks mentioned the Department of Education's financial pressures, as did the Minister, but it is very important to take into consideration that we are not solely talking about financial aid here. We are talking about the Department having the will to put a focus on this. Across the board, we heard about the importance of children getting outside and learning. I thank everyone for their contributions to the debate.

649 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:52 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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