26 Apr Erasmus+ Leading Groups Outdoors
School Leadership Team Explores Outdoor Leadership Through Erasmus+ Visit to Portugal
Members of our School Leadership Team recently took part in an inspiring Erasmus+ professional learning visit to Portugal, focused on developing leadership skills in outdoor settings and exploring how schools can make greater use of nature as a learning environment.
The programme centred on how leaders can effectively guide teams outdoors, where communication, collaboration, adaptability and trust become even more important. Through a range of practical activities in natural environments, participants experienced first-hand how outdoor spaces can strengthen teamwork, encourage reflective thinking and build confidence in decision-making.
A key focus of the visit was how school leaders can create the conditions for more teachers to feel confident using outdoor spaces as an extension of the classroom. From school grounds and local parks to villages, towns, cities, woodland and coastal areas, the environment offers rich opportunities for hands-on, meaningful learning across the curriculum.
During the Erasmus+ experience, our team explored:
- Strategies for leading staff teams in dynamic outdoor environments
- Ways to embed outdoor learning into whole-school planning
- Risk management approaches that enable safe and purposeful learning outdoors
- How nature-based learning supports wellbeing, engagement and curiosity
- Practical examples of outdoor teaching used successfully in Portuguese schools
The visit reinforced the importance of leadership in driving positive change. When school leaders champion outdoor learning, provide encouragement and model innovation, teachers are more likely to embrace new approaches and broaden learning experiences for pupils.
We are excited to build on this experience by supporting more staff to take lessons beyond the classroom walls. Over the coming months, we will be sharing ideas, developing resources and creating further opportunities for pupils to learn through nature.
We would like to thank our Erasmus+ partners Outdooredeu for their warm welcome, expertise and inspiration. This experience has strengthened our commitment to helping every child benefit from engaging, activeand memorable learning outdoors.
