Reports that outdoor learning is safer for children and teachers has helped a local company to launch a new training course for teachers working with students with challenging behaviour.

Vicki Stewart, Director of Brightwood Training, a local Forest School company based near Oxford, said: “We wanted a way for teachers to learn how to take children outdoors safely, following the guidance from government that outdoor learning reduces the risk of coronovirus.”

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She added: "Our experience shows that children and young people with autism, ADHD and challenging behaviour are more engaged outside, need fewer medications and their mental health improves. Research backs this up.”

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Teachers and adults who are interested in working outdoors with children and young people who have neurodiversity and challenging behaviour can now complete a National Qualification at Level 3, which teaches them how to make the outdoors accessible, reduce risk and take learning outdoors.

The course is expected to run at Hill End, an Outdoor Education site near Oxford from March 15, 2021.

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The courses Brightwood runs are all accredited by the Institute for Outdoor Learning.

Brightwood has been running outdoor learning for children and young people with challenging behaviour since 2017, and demand for mental health services in the outdoors has shot up.