Educating children with autism in nature improves wellbeing and education

The results of a new pilot scheme found that educating autistic children in nature benefits their wellbeing and their education. Now the City of London Corporation hopes that the program can be rolled out to other schools across London. The Nature Learning Program ran throughout the pandemic at Odessa Infant School in Newham. The scheme included outdoor activities and learning that encouraged the children to interact with the natural world through natural materials whilst learning and playing outdoors. It was found that the children were happier and their communication levels and social interaction with both adults and their peers increased. This enhanced their abilities to perform tasks independently, help balance their emotions and increased their confidence to try new things.