Outdoor Learning Service Review Consultation

Closed 19 Jan 2014

Opened 2 Dec 2013

Feedback updated 24 Jul 2015

We asked

The current review on the future of the Outdoor Learning Service may affect schools, pupils, disabled children and their families.  We invite you to read the accompanying information about the service, (Consultation Support Document) and complete the following form in order to help us understand the impact of the options.  Your responses will be used to inform the cabinet report.

You said

Your responses were gratefully received and will form part of the decision making process.

We did

This consultation formed part of a larger project and filtered into decisions made and recommendations for changes to take place.

Overview

The current review on the future of the Outdoor Learning Service may affect schools, pupils, disabled children and their families.  We invite you to read the accompanying information about the service, (Consultation Support Document) and complete the following form in order to help us understand the impact of the options.  Your responses will be used to inform the cabinet report.

The consultation is open for 7 weeks. The closing date for consultation is 19 January 2014.

The results of the consultation will be published here after this date.

Further consultation will also be undertaken as part of the full process.  This will ensure that the views and impacts on disabled children and their families is fully understood.

The Cabinet decision is likely to be in March 2014, and will be published on Birmingham City Council’s webpages.

If you would like help in completing this or would like to receive a paper version please contact Nimmi Patel, by telephoning 0121 303 9866, or emailing nimmi.patel@birmingham.gov.uk.

Why your views matter

Outdoor learning is a broad term that includes: outdoor play in the early years; school grounds projects; environmental education; recreational and adventure activities; personal and social development programmes; expeditions, team and leadership education.

Some outdoor learning provision is delivered by schools themselves and sometimes schools book services provided by others.  The budget for this activity has been devolved to schools as part of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

Birmingham City Council is one of a number of providers and delivers outdoor provision through the following five residential centres and six city based day centres.  The Council competes against other providers in the market and is not a preferred supplier to schools.

Need for Change

There are a number of factors prompting the need for change:

  • The service is used less and less, and numbers of pupils attending Birmingham City Council's centres has fallen significantly, as schools select other providers in preference to Birmingham City Council’s service.
  • The service has been running at a deficit for a number of years.  In 2012/13 income levels were £1.2m below the amount required to run the services. This liability is predicated to grow as utilisation continues to fall.
  • The last survey on the condition of the buildings showed the total estimate for repairs required is £4.1m. 
  • The City Council needs to save a further £340m by 2016/17 and needs to look at all areas of discretionary spend. This service is not a statutory requirement.
  • Continuing to be a provider in the future will mean cuts in other services.
  • Children’s Services need to bolster resources in order to keep vulnerable children safe and will need to make some difficult decisions in order to do this

Events

  • Additional Outdoor Learning Service Review Consultation

    From 1 Jan 2014 at 00:00 to 31 Jan 2014 at 00:00

    Further consultation will be undertaken as part of the full process. This will ensure that the views and impacts on disabled children and their families is fully understood.

Areas

  • ACOCKS GREEN
  • ASTON
  • BARTLEY GREEN
  • BILLESLEY
  • BORDESLEY GREEN
  • BOURNVILLE
  • BRANDWOOD
  • CITY CENTRE
  • CITY-WIDE
  • EDGBASTON
  • ERDINGTON
  • HALL GREEN
  • HANDSWORTH WOOD
  • HARBORNE
  • HODGE HILL
  • KINGS NORTON
  • KINGSTANDING
  • LADYWOOD
  • LONGBRIDGE
  • LOZELLS AND EAST HANDSWORTH
  • MOSELEY AND KINGS HEATH
  • NECHELLS
  • NORTHFIELD
  • OSCOTT
  • PERRY BARR
  • QUINTON
  • SELLY OAK
  • SHARD END
  • SHELDON
  • SOHO
  • SOUTH YARDLEY
  • SPARKBROOK
  • SPRINGFIELD
  • STECHFORD AND YARDLEY NORTH
  • STOCKLAND GREEN
  • SUTTON FOUR OAKS
  • SUTTON NEW HALL
  • SUTTON TRINITY
  • SUTTON VESEY
  • TYBURN
  • WASHWOOD HEATH
  • WEOLEY

Audiences

  • All residents
  • Asylum Seekers and Refugees
  • Minority Ethnic people
  • Carers
  • Young people
  • Older people
  • Disabled people
  • Children
  • Council tenants
  • Women
  • Councillors/MPs/MEPs
  • Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender people
  • Children in Care/looked after
  • Gypsies/Travellers
  • Internet users
  • Parents/Carers/Guardians
  • Older people
  • Patients
  • People with Disabilities
  • People with Learning Disabilities
  • Men
  • Students
  • Visitors/tourists
  • Homeless
  • Offenders
  • People’s panel
  • Victims of Crime
  • Cyclists
  • Motor Vehicle Drivers
  • Pedestrians
  • Local Residents
  • Age All
  • Public Sector Bodies
  • Businesses
  • Faith groups
  • Community groups
  • Voluntary Organisations
  • Staff
  • Service user groups
  • Newly arrived groups

Interests

  • Children & Young People
  • Education