Independent Commission for Land-Based Learning - review and implementation plan: SG response - progress report
Progress of the actions in response to all the recommendations from the Review of Land-Based Learning in the 12 months since the Scottish Government response report was published.
Recommendation 3:
Ensure that the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) Action Plan refresh encompasses strong progressive learning experiences relating to nature-based learning.
Output
LfS Action Plan includes progressive learning experiences for nature-based learning.
Implementing Actions
The LfS themed webpage will provide content on this. LfS is one of the core competencies that is being looked at as part of the curriculum improvement cycle.
Progress Update
Through our refreshed Learning for Sustainability Action Plan we have committed to embedding Learning for Sustainability, which includes nature-based learning and climate literacy across all levels on the Curriculum. This ties into several of the Actions, most notably in Actions 1 and 10-12.
Through the ongoing work of Scotland’s Curriculum Improvement Cycle (CIC) we are continuing to consider how to better align cross-curricular themes, such as Learning for Sustainability, with subject areas. We are considering how this relates to the relevance of curriculum content, role of knowledge, transitions between primary and secondary and alignment between Board General Education and the Senior Phase.
Education Scotland have developed their online portal for LfS.
Timescale
2024-2025 and beyond - in progress.
Milestones
Embed this activity into the LfS refreshed Action Plan’s actions and milestones – complete.
Commencement of Curriculum Improvement Cycle from December 2023 - complete.
Education Scotland to launch LfS themed webpage Autumn 2024 - complete.
Recommendation 3.1:
Establish a robust approach to monitoring quality of the curriculum delivery of Learning for Sustainability (LfS), including the quantity and quality of nature-based and outdoor learning.
Output
A refreshed version of Education Scotland’s self-evaluation tool for LfS.
Implementing Actions
The Scottish Government will run a series of workshops with a group of stakeholders to collaboratively develop an approach to Measuring Success and Driving Improvement. Children and young people’s groups are being consulted on this work.
Progress Update
Work is ongoing on developing an approach to Measuring Success and Driving Improvement, with more progress expected throughout the year.
Through our refreshed Learning for Sustainability Action Plan we have committed to monitoring the quality of curriculum delivery of LfS in Action 7.
The LfS Working Group has been established and is working on developing an approach.
Timescales
2024-2025 - in progress.
Milestones
Embed this activity into the LfS refreshed Action Plan actions and milestones - complete.
Establish LfS working group to lead development of approach Summer 2024, this is ongoing.
Recommendation 3.2:
Promote the delivery of more outdoor learning by supporting local authorities and colleges to undertake a review of their estate, to identify the potential for carbon reduction, climate change mitigation and the creation of accessible nature spaces.
Outputs
Creation of Discovery Trail and The Howff (sheltered outdoor learning space) on the Queen Margaret University (QMU) Campus, development of digital resources and the Masters Module. These resources are aimed at teachers, student teachers and local authorities etc.
The Climate Ready School Grounds (CRSG) project provides resources, case studies, School Grounds Climate survey, lesson plans and guidance for teachers and local authorities.
Guidance on developing interventions in school grounds to help support schools in creating more inspirational outdoor settings, including guidance to help create spaces that mitigate against climate based issues. This will be aimed at schools and local authorities.
The Co-designing Sustainable Learning Settings project is about supporting the delivery of the Learning for Sustainability policy in our places and communities. This will be tested through delivering pilot projects which co-design sustainable learning settings in varied school contexts such as urban, rural and town settings.
The College Infrastructure Investment plan being developed in 2025 will identify net zero projects and evaluation guidance is likely to consider issues such as climate mitigation, carbon reduction and biodiversity.
Implementing Actions
Making Places for Outdoor Learning module and digital resources, which are aimed at e.g. teachers, student teachers and local authorities. School workshops to test ideas and develop action plans and case studies based on pilot projects.
Resources with design ideas, guidance, tools and risk assessments, aimed at e.g. schools and local authorities. Place-based workshops, case studies and guidance.
Progress Update
We are progressing with this work with 3 of the milestones completed, the remaining one is ongoing and on target for completion.
The outdoor spaces toolkit was published in April 2025 - Design Elements for School Grounds
The co-designing Sustainable Learning Settings project started in 2024/25 and the report was published in April 2025 - Learning Locally: Co-designing Sustainable Learning Settings
Timescale and Milestones
Outdoor Learning Hub at QMU was officially launched by the Minister for Higher and Further Education in March 2024 - complete.
CRSG project was launched in September 2023 - complete.
Outdoor spaces toolkit is due to be published in 2024/25 - complete.
Co-designing Sustainable Learning Settings project starts in 2024/25 and is ongoing.
Contact
Email: ruralpolicymailbox@gov.scot