An outdoor education centre has been praised for improving children’s self-esteem, confidence and social skills.

Rippledown Education Centre in Dover Road hosts residential trips with schools from across the UK and Europe helping children explore the outdoors and nature.

The report follows a study by Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) and environmental education charity The Bay Trust on the impact on children’s learning and wellbeing.

It found the outdoor learning at Rippledown allows children to “gain a sense of their own individual interests, strengths and abilities” as well as a “nature connection, hope and dietary awareness”.

Rippledown’s outdoor learning tutor Dr Sarah O’Malley said: “The evidence gathered by this research clearly demonstrates the benefits of outdoor learning and provides support for various curriculum areas.

“Rippledown has welcomed over 40,000 school children since it opened in 1977, providing each of them with a unique education at the old rectory house. For some, this is their first experience of being away from home.

“We’re very proud of the brilliant residential school trips, outdoor learning and holiday clubs that we deliver at Rippledown and we’ll continue to develop programmes to enhance a child’s learning experience, with the principle values of health, environment and wellbeing at their heart.”

Three primary schools took part in the anonymous study, one from Kent and two from London.

It involved more than 50 children aged between nine and 10, who took part in activities like shelter building, using maps and a compass, treasure and bug hunting.

The data was gathered from an anonymous questionnaire completed a week before, a week after and a month after the children’s stay, at the end of last year.

Dr Joe Hinds, a social-environmental psychologist at CCCU who gathered the data, said: “This study adds to a growing body of research linking the influence of a residential programme with children’s cognitive development and wellbeing to their time spent outdoors.

“In an education system governed by goals and statistics, Rippledown provides a fresh approach, a fun, holistic way of learning, using nature as a playground.”

For more information visit: rippledown.com