According to our recent SEND survey, outdoor exercise continues to demonstrate its positive impacts on mental health for children with SEND.
25th March 2026
The most recent survey question asked the following: ‘How do you think spending time outdoors during physical activities impacts the mental health of children with SEND?’
The top-level results were:
86% Said it improves focus and concentration
80% Noted that it reduces stress and anxiety
80% Linked it to mood regulation and emotional expression
66% Reported that it boosts confidence and independence
Spending time outdoors through physical activity plays a vital role in supporting the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
For many SEND pupils, structured indoor environments can heighten anxiety, sensory overload or bring on behavioural challenges.
In contrast, outdoor physical activity provides a flexible, unstructured and engaging space that can reduce stress, improve mood and support social interaction.
Understanding the importance of outdoor activity and exercise is particularly important given the growing demand for SEND provision across the UK and the acknowledgment that in 2025, there were 1,100 special schools in England alone, alongside thousands of mainstream schools supporting SEND pupils through dedicated departments.
There was strong consensus that spending time outdoors during physical activities was extremely beneficial to children with SEND and the data is compelling.
Spending time outdoors can have a surprisingly strong effect on classroom focus, especially for children with autism spectrum disorder.
Our bodies are designed to move and, unsurprisingly, even short breaks outside running around, increase blood flow and stimulate the brain.
This means children return to the classroom more alert and ready to learn, as well as feeling calmer and better able to concentrate.
Movement releases tension, and connection to nature lowers stress responses.
Many research papers back up this theory with one 2025 report by University of Surrey stating people who ‘actively notice natural features’ such as birdsong, plant textures, and scents, can significantly improve their wellbeing.
Even the UK Government has launched a supported project so far has demonstrated that nature‑based activities (Green Social Prescribing) can improve happiness and reduce anxiety.
When you add movement to being in nature, you see compounded benefits such as a reduction in sensory stress. Together, they foster confidence, independence and greater alertness to learn.
Research in the UK from the National Association for Environmental Education demonstrates that spending time outdoors in natural environments helps children regulate their mood and manage stress, with most children reporting that such activities make them feel calmer, happier, and more able to express their emotions.
Frontiers has also published a paper on the Psychological Wellbeing Benefits of Regular Exercisers which, when combined with our findings and feedback from our SEND survey to teaching professionals, shows that it is evident that SEND pupils benefit from regular breaks outdoors to exercise.
66% of all SEND professionals that actively work within a SEND educational setting agreed that physical activities outdoors boosted confidence and independence.
One of the explanations for this is that outside, there is no rigid “right” way to take part. Children can explore at their own pace, engage in activities without constant correction and experience success in small, natural ways. Combined with the calming sensory input of wind, leaves, or water, it is an ideal way to regulate the nervous system.
Outdoor physical exercise (particularly using an outdoor gym) naturally includes manageable risks, such as climbing, swinging or balancing. This teaches children to assess risk, trust their own judgement and learn that they can do things independently in small, incremental ‘I can do this’ type steps.
About Us
Fresh Air Fitness is an award-winning provider of outdoor gym equipment for schools who support children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities.
Our in-house team offers an end-to-end service with no out-sourcing.
We have been designing, manufacturing and installing outdoor gyms since 2007 and over these many years, we continue to see the amazing benefits outdoor exercise has for children with SEND.
Find Out Who Uses Our Equipment
Explore our Case Studies to see how SEND schools and SEND departments benefit from our state-of-the-art, accessible and inclusive outdoor gyms.
Make an Enquiry
If you would like to discuss the benefits of installing an outdoor gym in your school grounds, our experienced team would be delighted to take your call on 01483 366599.
Alternatively, you can complete our online enquiry form.
Back to all blog posts
