CHILDREN from under-threat of closure, Horton-in-Ribblesdale Primary School were joined by other schoolchildren for the launch of the school's outdoor education programme.

Parents and friends of the school have appealed to the School's Adjudicator against the decision of North Yorkshire County Council to close the village school at the end of the school year.

And while they wait for a decision, the school has forged ahead with its Dales Outdoor Education Programme.

Over two days, 60 children from Trawden Forest Primary School in Lancashire, and from Home Start centres, joined Horton children for outdoor learning sessions at Dry Rigg Quarry, Gill Garth Farm, and for 'Forest School' activities at Horton School.

At the farm, children saw lambs being born and got a real inside look at the work of a Dales hill farmer.

At the school, which is on one of the main paths to Penyghent, they took in a forest school 'mannequin challenge' in which they were taught to use tools in a safe way to make forest people.

As a part of rolling out the new Dales Outdoor Education Programme, Anthea Hanson, from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust's Stories in Stone project - will be leading a series of curriculum-based outdoor days at Horton School over the coming months.

If the Schools Adjudicator rules in favour of the school, and it remains open, the programme will continue in the new school year with the possible inclusion of flexi schooling opportunities for home educators in the area.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council said the council was co-operating with the schools adjudicator and expected a decision to be made in the summer term.

"We must now await the outcome of that referral. We understand the decision of the adjudicator will be made during the course of the summer term. Horton-in-Ribblesdale has only 12 children on roll, including only one child in Key Stage 1 and only two boys in the school plus one child in nursery. Numbers are projected to fall further with 10 in October and eight in October 2018. The council’s decision was made because of overriding concerns about the quality and breadth of education that Horton could continue to provide and for the school’s financial viability."

To find out more about the school's outdoor education programme visit the website horton-in-ribblesdale.n-yorks.sch.uk/dales-outdoor-programme, or the Friends of Horton-in-Ribblesdale School facebook page.