Making new outdoor classroom accessible for all students

Making new outdoor classroom accessible for all students

By Col Stocker

The woodland forest school and outdoor classroom is a vital part of the curriculum for Henshaws Specialist College. Installing an accessible ramp allows everyone at the college to utilise this space and help connect with the natural world

Investing in outdoor classrooms certainly aligns with the understanding that exposure to nature can have a significant positive impact on mental well-being. To provide an opportunity to connect with the natural world, promoting not only academic growth but also personal development and independence.

With a school year well underway the woodland forest school and outdoor classroom is a vital part of Henshaws Specialist College curriculum. Yet they needed to make the classroom entirely accessible for all students year-round, whatever the weather.

Based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire the college offers around 80 places to students aged 18 – 25 with special educational needs and disabilities. Including a residential offering which allows young people to join from across the UK.

Shaneka Rianne, Trust & Grants Assistant applied for support and a £200 grant went towards helping with the installation of a wheelchair ramp, meaning it could allow every single student at the college to benefit from the classroom.

“We look forward to seeing how the students progress through the school year, the changing seasons and having greater access to the outdoors. Forest School is particularly suited to people who have a low sense of self-worth and who struggle for various reasons to learn in a traditional classroom setting. Students have shown improved communication through relating to nature and developing their social skills – things like sharing, negotiating, leading and problem solving with peers.”

Emma, an instructor at Henshaws also shared the positives of getting the students outdoors.

“Many of the students I work with who have autism visibly relax when we go outside to explore our natural spaces. They also seem more able to tolerate each other’s self-stimulating behaviours e.g. humming and can work better as a group, due to the space accessible to them.”

Books & Magazines

  • Email when available

Oat To Joy Oat To Joy

Oat To Joy

Emma Pooleys oat-based recipes
$39.99
  • Email when available

BOMS-GBBR-01-great_british_bike_rides BOMS-GBBR-01-great_british_bike_rides

Great British Bike Rides

40 of the best road rides in England, Scotland and Wales
$34.99
  • Email when available

BOMS-LST-01-landscape_treks BOMS-LST-01-landscape_treks

Landscape Treks

Photo location guidebook that takes us through various walks, comprising of some of the wildest and most photogenic scenery the UK has to offer
$0.00
  • Email when available

Lake District Mountain Landscape Lake District Mountain Landscape

Lake District Mountain Landscape

A spectacular photographic perspective of the Lake District
$39.99
  • Email when available

Avon Gorge Avon Gorge

Avon Gorge

A Climbers’ Club Guide to the Avon Gorge
$9,999.00
  • Email when available

Structured Chaos Structured Chaos

Structured Chaos

The unusual life of a climber by Victor Saunders
$24.99
  • Email when available

Where There’s A Will: Hope, Grief And Endurance In A Cycle Race Across A Continent Where There’s A Will: Hope, Grief And Endurance In A Cycle Race Across A Continent

Where There’s A Will: Hope, Grief And Endurance In A Cycle Race Across A Continent

Emily Chappell's story of pushing the limits of her endurance
$0.00
  • Email when available

The Isle of Skye The Isle of Skye

The Isle of Skye

Graded walks and scrambles throughout Skye, including the Cuillin
$0.00
  • Email when available

Dark Peak Walks Dark Peak Walks

Dark Peak Walks

40 walks exploring the Peak District gritstone and moorland landscapes
$0.00
  • Email when available

Lost Lanes North Lost Lanes North

Lost Lanes North

36 Glorious bike rides in Northern England
$22.49
  • Email when available

Walking in the Yorkshire Dales; North and East Walking in the Yorkshire Dales; North and East

Walking in the Yorkshire Dales; North and East

43 circular day walks in the north and east Yorkshire Dales
$17.49
  • Email when available

Alps Mountain Biking Alps Mountain Biking

Alps Mountain Biking

From Aosta to Zermat the best singletrack, enduro and downhill trails in the Alps
$27.49

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

=