At Benjamin Adlard Primary School, the Roots Outdoor Education provision exemplifies how a purposeful, inclusive and community-connected initiative can deliver the Anthem vision for personal development. Sitting on a hillside overlooking the Lincolnshire countryside, Roots is a large natural space that includes a wild meadow, micro farm, chicken coops, willow dome, enchanted forest, and an outdoor classroom.

The provision is embedded into the school’s culture, not as an add-on, but as an essential part of a whole-school approach to personal development. It promotes ambition, participation, empathy, and relationships.

Through regular outdoor learning, children participate in rich, hands-on experiences that develop resilience, independence, and critical thinking. Curriculum links are carefully planned. Design and technology sessions involve woodcraft and product creation. In science, students use apparatus, such as magnifying glasses, to carry out enquiry-based learning. These activities not only enrich the curriculum but also encourage students to be curious, collaborative learners.

Roots also functions as a therapeutic intervention space. Students with social, emotional and mental health needs access the area weekly to develop the micro farm collaboratively. These sessions help to build emotional regulation, self-esteem, and positive relationships. It is this relational approach that has supported many students, who were at risk of exclusion, to engage with a curriculum that truly motivates and includes them.

The impact of Roots extends beyond the school gates. Each week, the school runs a community workshop, inviting parents and local residents to join in with activities such as produce growing, site maintenance, and outdoor cooking. Participants have commented that it has improved their mental health and wellbeing. The space has become a centre for intergenerational learning and community pride.

Looking ahead, the school will roll out a bespoke Roots outdoor curriculum, giving every class an enrichment afternoon per half term. This ensures that all children leave Benjamin Adlard possessing the core attributes of independence, resilience, empathy, inclusivity and critical thinking.

Roots Outdoor Education at Benjamin Adlard is a compelling example of how a school’s values and outdoor environment can support holistic student growth and community transformation preparing students for life in modern Britain with pride, purpose and potential.