The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Manifesto partnership was launched by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on 28th November 2006. The Manifesto is a ‘movement’ or joint undertaking that many different stakeholders have helped to create and to which anyone can sign up. Its aim is to ensure that all young people have a variety of high quality learning experiences outside the classroom environment.
	The Manifesto is a short publication with a vision statement and high level aims. Government departments (including DfES, Defra and DCMS), LOtC providers, local authorities, schools, youth groups and many other supporters are in the process of signing up to or ‘endorsing’ these common aims and making ‘pledges’ of practical action to support them.

The Growing Schools Programme recognises the value of Learning Outside the Classroom and support the Manifesto’s vision and aims. We have therefore already endorsed the Manifesto along with 172 other organisations, including English Heritage, Field Studies Council, Natural England, RSPB, Outward Bound Trust, Arts Council, Forestry Commission, Natural History Museum, Youth Hostel Association, Farming and Countryside Education, National Trust, Learning through Landscapes, to name just a few. A full list of signatories and their pledges of support are on the website.

We have endorsed the Manifesto because we believe that by working together we can provide many more opportunities for children and young people to experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of their learning and development. We recognise that, quality learning experiences in ‘real’ situations can raise achievement across a range of subjects and develop better personal and social skills. When these experiences are well planned, safely managed and personalised to meet the needs of every child they can:

• Improve academic achievement
• Provide a bridge to higher order learning
• Develop skills and independence in a widening range of environments
• Make learning more engaging and relevant to young people
• Develop active citizens and stewards of the environment
• Nurture creativity
• Provide opportunities for informal learning through play
• Reduce behaviour problems and improve attendance
• Stimulate, inspire and improve motivation
• Develop the ability to deal with uncertainty
• Provide challenge and the opportunity to take acceptable levels of risk
• Improve young people’s attitudes to learning.

We will be working with schools, local authorities, parents, carers and the many other organisations committed to providing an exciting range of teaching and learning opportunities outside the classroom.

Other key proposed measures of the Manifesto include:

1. The creation of a new, independent Learning Outside the Classroom Council to bring together providers from the public, private and voluntary sectors with representatives from schools & Local Authorities , in order to take ownership of and achieve the aims of the Manifesto.
2. The development of an Out and About package to support schools and others with guidance on planning and funding; staff training and development; and risk management including a new family of ‘safety badges’.
3. Learning Outside the Classroom will be part of the revised OFSTED Self Evaluation Form, in order to encourage schools to evaluate and develop their current activities.

The Year of Food and Farming, which will run from September 2007 to July 2008, is aimed at helping young people learn more about how food is grown and produced and how it reaches the consumer. It is hoped that the Year will therefore help to reconnect young people with the food, farming and the countryside and will result in:

• An improved understanding of the food chain and the role played by farming
• Increased links between schools, farmers and food producers
• Development of healthier lifestyles and good nutrition.
• An increased interest in careers in the food and farming industries
• A greater appreciation of the importance of the countryside and environmental issues.

David Miliband made the announcement with Sir Don Curry (the Chair of the Government’s Sustainable Farming and Food delivery group) at a conference: ‘Food and Farming – Reconnecting a new generation’. At that conference, Sir Don Curry said: “It is vital that young people have a better understanding of where their food comes from, how it is produced, and the importance of eating a healthy balanced diet. I believe the Year will provide a fantastic springboard for this and leave a legacy of materials and links which will continue to be used long after this initiative is over.”

The Year of Food and Farming will encourage a wide range of local initiatives. A dedicated website, hosting education materials and details of how to get involved in activities in your region, will be developed ahead of the formal launch in September 2007. It will try to signpost opportunities and events, offer supporting resources and links to other initiatives. Projects in the Year are likely to include:

• Development of curriculum materials and projects on food and farming
• Visits to food and farming businesses
• Exchanges of staff - short-term teacher secondments or job shadowing
• Activities based around food retailers and restaurant businesses
• Competitions
• Growing activities - encouraging school kitchen gardens
• Community projects
• Debates on key issues

So there will be many opportunities to make great links with both the Growing Schools programme and the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto.