Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

# Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill Scottish schools have seen a significant decline in residential outdoor education provision over recent years, with fewer pupils having access to experiences such as outdoor camps, field studies, and adventure activities. This member's bill addresses concerns that young people are missing out on the educational and developmental benefits these experiences provide, including improved wellbeing, resilience, teamwork, and practical skills. The decline has been attributed to various factors including budget pressures on schools and local authorities, concerns about costs to families, and reduced capacity at outdoor education centres. The bill introduces measures to support the expansion and accessibility of residential outdoor education for Scottish schoolchildren. Key provisions include establishing a framework to encourage and facilitate residential outdoor education provision, potentially through funding mechanisms, and ensuring that cost is not a barrier to participation for families. The legislation aims to place a duty on education authorities to consider how they can improve access to these experiences, with particular attention to equity and ensuring disadvantaged pupils are not excluded due to financial constraints. As a member's bill introduced to Parliament, its progression through the legislative process would depend on securing sufficient support among MSPs and navigating the scrutiny stages of the parliamentary procedure.

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