Outdoor Education - Unique Care Homes

The new curriculum for Wales recognises the value of learning outdoors.

At Ysgol Y Rhos, we know that taking the classroom outdoors has endless benefits for both students and their teachers. We’re very fortunate to be located amidst the stunning North Welsh countryside with an abundance of wildlife and outdoor space for students to learn and enjoy the benefits of the outdoors.

Our students are also timetabled to attend offsite outdoor education activities with Safe and Sound Outdoors (link to Adventure Activity weekends in North Wales UK). Our students get the opportunity to take part in white water rafting, mountain biking, river bugs, stand up paddleboarding, bushcraft, and canoeing. Our older students also attend the gym once a week.

Outdoor Education at Ysgol Y Rhos provides:

High levels of well-being, confidence, and engagement
Social, emotional, spiritual, and physical development
Authentic opportunities for learners to develop and consolidate cross-curricular skills
Development of imagination, creativity, and curiosity
Empathy for the environment, showing an awareness of their potential impact on the living world
Ability to assess and experience risk, helping to develop resilience and confidence

Vision

The Welsh Curriculum massively supports the value of the outdoors. We encourage all learners at Ysgol Y Rhos to prove to themselves that they can do it and they will be OK – even if they fail. This helps students to develop the skills they need for a fulfilling adult life and shape them into enterprising, creative contributors.

The benefits of outdoor education, particularly for our students, improve mental health, getting outdoors in lessons, play, and for therapy.