Durham Botanic Garden

A very useful CPD that delivered ideas for creative outdoor activities and experiments for science as well as cross curricular links. Thank you for a great day!

Sam has worked with our children to teach them about saving and conserving energy. He explained a complicated concept in an entertaining and lively way that was accessible to all our children. He was friendly and approachable, encouraging easy communication with staff and children.
The children thoroughly enjoyed his lessons and continued to talk about what they had learnt, long after Sam had left. Sam has also been invaluable in promoting outdoor learning, training staff and has run inspirational forest schools sessions with our children. I would thoroughly recommend him to others!

Imaginative, innovative, inspiring and ingenious, Sam is the ultimate approachable, flexible and reliable professional who brings learning to life in the outdoors for all who have the privilege to spend time in his company. His enthusiastic approach engages children and professionals alike and this is underpinned by his unparalleled subject knowledge, a creative mind and a dedication to make the learning experience an ultimate one. Sam is also always open to new ideas and to work closely with teachers to ensure that the learning is tailored specifically to the context. Ox Close has had the privilege of working with Sam and the equally brilliant wider SC.OUT.ED team for several years now and his sessions are a weekly highlight for our pupils.

At Ox Close, SC.OUT.ED provide a diverse and progressive outdoor offer, ranging from bushcraft to pond dipping, from arts using natural matrerials to archery, holiday provision and the ever popular fire activities! Sam has helped to develop our amazing outdoor area and he has provided enriching and enlightening professional development for a host of staff from Ox Close and beyond. Sam has a fantastic team which is very much in his own image – friendly, wise and approachable and both he and his colleagues are very much an integral part of the team at Ox Close and many other schools.

What SC.OUT.ED offer was perhaps best summarised by one pupil earlier this year:

“The best, the top of the tops, I mean right off the scale is Outdoor Learning with Sam Jackson!”

It is with great pleasure that I offer my full endorsement of Sam and his exceptional organisation.

The children thoroughly enjoyed the outdoor activities.  All the children were eager and excited to find out more.  A fantastic day – managed and delivered very well.  A really interesting way to focus on our topic of the Great Fire of London.

We wanted a high interest, active day with lots for the children to get stuck into and we got that from Mark. Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design with aspects of Communication and Language were successfully delivered. The delivery and management of the day was very good. Communication beforehand was quick and thorough. We really enjoyed the day, thank you!