Outdoor Education Bill returns to UK Parliament to tackle youth mental health

The Outdoor Education Bill is returning to the UK Parliament this Friday, seeking to mandate increased time outdoors for schoolchildren to address the youth mental health crisis. Proposed by South Devon MP Caroline Voaden, the Ten-Minute Rule Bill would require primary and secondary schools to provide pupils with at least 30 minutes of outdoor time every school day and at least one outdoor lesson per week.

If passed, the legislation would also ensure every child receives at least one outdoor education experience during both primary and secondary school. Supporters, including the Field Studies Council, argue that outdoor learning improves student confidence, engagement, and calm. The bill arrives as data from the Raising the Nation Play Commission indicates that time spent outdoors has declined by 50 per cent within a generation.

Advocates highlight a growing mental health crisis, noting that roughly one in 10 children in England were referred for mental health treatment in the 12 months leading to March 2025. Proponents suggest that increasing nature connection could help mitigate these trends and address the NEET crisis, where over a million young people are not in education, employment, or training.