During a Westminster Hall debate this week on child obesity, Simon Hart highlighted the health benefits for children of outdoor education as well as concerns about the decline in school trips as a result of burdensome health and safety regulation. The full text of the debate can be read here. The debate can be watched in full here.

Hart referred to the Westminster Hall debate on outdoor education which he led in December of last year during which he highlighted the health benefits of outdoor learning. Hart went on to highlight the benefits for pupils, teachers and parents of outdoor education. Hart also noted that students with behavioural problems and at risk of exclusion from school are more likely to respond and engage in outdoor education. 

Hart said that 86% of children and parents want to see engagement in outdoor learning in schools. However, he also warned that 76% of teachers are turning down the opportunity to undertake outdoor learning because of concerns about health and safety risks associated with such trips. Hart went on to state that evidence demonstrates there are very few health and safety risks to outdoor education and called on the Government to take action to address this issue.

Simon Hart’s remarks about the impact of health and safety concerns on the decline in outdoor learning are encouraging. Hart is a known support of outdoor education and led the Westminster Hall debate on outdoor learning in December of last year. We have previously approached Mr Hart for a meeting and are chasing up this meeting request following his remarks this week.