Big Changes! The Great Outdoors and the Curriculum for Wales

Abstract

The Curriculum for Wales 2022 and the enabling learning approach, which informs the development of early years provision and foundation learning, have provided a strong focus on the benefits of outdoor learning. Such learning promotes children's curiosity, exploration and holistic development. This article describes the ethos and approach of the new curriculum, with a specific focus on the significant place given to outdoor learning. It considers the opportunities offered by implementing outdoor learning within the curriculum, and the barriers to doing so, and draws on evidence from past curriculum experiences. The article addresses the implementation of outdoor learning at macro, meso and micro levels.