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10 minute reads, Children's rights, OPAL, Outdoor People, School - September 14, 2025

'School-ready' or not?

The first couple of weeks back at school, and with it, familiar anxieties about whether the latest cohort of Reception-aged children have arrived 'school-ready'. It seems In every school we visit – and we’re working with over 150 – Reception teachers are telling us many children can’t jump with two feet together, walk backwards or stand on one leg. Cath Prisk has a prescription to make sure children are meeting their developmental goals...

Outdoor People on Podcasts

A round-up of the podcasts featuring Cath Prisk talking about the importance of children being outdoors at home, at school and every day.

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Early Years, Play theory, School - February 23, 2021

The purpose of education is life, and that includes outdoor play

What is the purpose of education? This is a question posed by the Purpose/Ed campaign back in 2013, and this was my response... Given we are now returning to school post Covid this seems ever more important.

The news about schools leading ‘catch up’ sessions in the summer made us think about what this means, and reminded us of this journal post. Yes give kids the tools they need to learn, but before the autumn they need to be given the space to catch up with themselves and just to play.

What if... outdoor classrooms were the new norm?

As head teachers in the UK wrestle with the whether, when and how of reopening their schools, they are having to drastically rethink the school day and the learning environment. In this article, written by Cath Prisk for the London National Park City Schools Network, we consider how getting outdoors could offer some potential solutions.

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