The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) is the national charity that champions all learning that happens beyond the classroom (LOtC). We believe that every child should be given the opportunity to experience life and lessons beyond the classroom walls as a regular part of growing up. These experiences expand the horizons of young people, opening their eyes to the wonders of areas such as art, heritage, culture, adventure and the natural world. We ensure that more young people have access to these life changing educational experiences by providing support on the ground, facilitating the sharing of best practice and promoting the benefits of LOtC in raising attainment and aspirations and re-motivating those who are disengaged from their education.
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Our work supports educators, schools and organisations who are dedicated to ensuring more children and young people have opportunities for life-changing learning experiences beyond the classroom, whether these happen indoors or outdoors, close to home or far away.
We support schools to develop their learning outside the classroom (LOtC), ensuring it is embedded into the curriculum to offer meaningful and impactful experiences. Our ‘Learning Beyond’ pathways for schools and settings offers three different levels of support in order to help schools no matter where their are on their LOtC journey.
We also support providers of LOtC. Whether indoors or outdoors, close to home or far away, LOtC experiences can be life-changing for the children and young people providers work with; enhancing their attainment, achievement, personal development and wellbeing. From museums to churches, adventure centres to trampoline parks, our support enables all types of providers to ensure they offer a safe and quality service for schools and other educational settings.
We run the LOtC Quality Badge scheme which gives providers recognition for their educational and risk management quality. It is the only national award assessing both the quality of risk management and educational provision across all types of learning outside the classroom providers including in-school theatre groups and planetariums, museums and castles, botanical gardens and city farms, theme parks and zoos, field study and adventure centres, and expeditions and study cultural tours abroad. It is recognised by the Department of Education and Welsh Government, and therefore by schools and community groups as an indication of quality.
Our aims:
- Influencing and challenging learning outside the classroom policy and practice
- Raising the profile of learning outside the classroom and promoting the benefits
- Providing support for education and LOtC professionals, aiming for good quality learning outside the classroom that meets the needs of young people.
Our priorities:
- Quality assurance
- CPD and training
- Influencing and advocacy
- Strategic partnerships and supporter development