Staff Training

Often training for staff to develop their confidence and efficacy within Outdoor Learning can be costly in terms of time and money: 

Time. 

•  Many courses developing outdoor teaching/coaching skills follow a pattern of training course – consolidation – assessment course. As well as having to attend 2 courses the amount of time needed for consolidation can prove prohibitive. 
• While many courses can be taught locally, courses that develop specific advanced skills need to be delivered in the environment that is appropriate to that skill, often requiring several days spent away. 

Cost.  

• Where school staff attend a course within work time often the cost of ‘cover’ is factored into the overall cost making some courses prohibitively expensive for a departments budget. 
• As staff develop their skills and move onto advanced courses the instructor:staff ratio drops significantly, because of the demands of the outdoor environment, which is reflected in the course costs. 
• While many courses can be taught locally, courses that develop specific advanced skills need to be delivered in the environment that is appropriate to that skill, often requiring several days spent away, increasing both the cost and time expense. 
• While courses for staff that work within a school setting can be affordable and applicable, for example a 1 day 1st Aid course from the British Red Cross, for staff working outdoors or under specific remits they often need longer and more expensive courses, for example the 3 day First aid at work course from the British Red Cross It is our aim to support staff wishing to develop their confidence and efficacy in delivering Outdoor Learning and Adventure Education by partially funding and providing appropriate training.