Back in December, Outlook proudly announced that we had been awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Badge. The Quality Badge is awarded to providers who have pledged to engage in an ongoing process to sustain high-quality learning outside the classroom and who have demonstrated that they meet six quality indicators. This badge should assist schools in identifying external providers who combine the essential elements of outdoor provision - learning and safety - through the delivery of good quality teaching and learning experiences and effective risk management.
The OEAP (Outdoor Education Advisors' Panel) recently released the following statement on their website:
The OEAP endorses the LOTC Quality Badge and requests to Local Authority Members to recommend the use the of LOTC Quality Badge Providers to its schools other establishments and groups. It further requests to its LA members not to require information from LOTC Badged Providers that duplicates details provided by the Quality Badge Criteria.
For those of you unfamiliar with the OEAP, their role is to offer practical help, advice and support to staff taking children off site, to different environments including visits to local areas, museums, places of worship, visits abroad and adventure activities. The OEAP is not just about climbing and canoeing but ensuring that staff have access to high quality advice to ensure that young people have enriched learning opportunities. The Panel comprises of nominated representatives of Chief Officers of Local Authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It provides a forum for sharing and developing good practice in Outdoor Learning and Learning Outside the Classroom.
Outlook is very pleased to see that the OEAP share our regard for and recognise the importance of the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge in ensuring that providers of outdoor learning experiences for children are as safe and committed to quality delivery as they possibly can be.
Please visit http://oeap.info/ for more infomation about the work of the OEAP.
To visit the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge website please click on the LOtC logo on the right hand side of this page.
