Outdoors teaching in an Essex school

A school in Essex is encouraging its staff to bring teaching out in the open, after the development of a new organic garden.

Children and teachers at Manuden Primary School got together to grow plants and food in the plot, according to citizen-series.co.uk

Speaking to the news source, headteacher Linda Talbot said: "We're already using the garden to develop our senses of touch, taste, smell and sight - our first crop of lettuce is almost ready for picking and will make a tasty addition to our school lunches!"

This is in line with a nationwide campaign to encourage teaching and learning to take place outside the classroom, championed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Writing in the Education Guardian yesterday, the University of Bath's Professor William Scott noted that teachers have a vital role to play in influencing members of the wider community to be more environmentally aware.