A COUNCIL is sending an entire year group of primary pupils on an outdoor education course.

Inverclyde Council has set aside £80,000 to take 800 of its P6 pupils on a two-night residential outdoor education course, with a further commitment to the initiative over the next two years.

The programme is designed to encourage children to challenge themselves in a safe and controlled environment through tree climbing, zip-wire slides and team building exercises.

Outdoor education used to play a major part in school life in Scotland, but has been in decline over the past two decades.

Last year, the importance of outdoor education was raised by Scots Tories, who said every secondary pupil in Scotland should be entitled to an outdoor adventure course as part of their education.

The £10million-a-year plan would give pupils a week-long outward bound-style course involving activities such as kayaking, climbing and abseiling to help them learn team building skills and boost their self-confidence.

There was concern at the time from teaching unions who said such initiatives could prove a burden to teachers who were not fully qualified.

A strategic advisory group was set up to explore how more outdoor education could be delivered.

In the meantime, Inverclyde Council has decided to go ahead with its own scheme.

Council leader Stephen McCabe said: "For many, it is the first time they have been away from home without their parents, and they can only benefit from the experience."

Dave Spence, of Scottish Outdoor Education Centres, which are working with Inverclyde, said: "Outdoor education gives pupils confidence, resilience, leadership skills and teaches them about communication and problem-solving."