Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning is a huge part of our curriculum and lies at the heart of who we are as a provision.
We strongly believe children learn best through real-life experiences, exploration, curiosity, and adventure.
Our motto is:
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing!”
We spend a large part of our day outdoors, whatever the weather, allowing children to build confidence, resilience, independence, and a strong connection with the natural world.
At least once a week, we visit our allotment, where the children grow and care for a wide range of fruits and vegetables. Through this, they learn how plants change over time while developing responsibility, patience, and respect for living things. Seasonal changes also play an important role within our teaching, encouraging children to observe, question, investigate, and explore the world around them.
Children experience many real-life learning opportunities, such as watching eggs hatch into chicks and ducklings, exploring frogspawn and life cycles, caring for caterpillars, and observing minibeasts within their natural habitats.
Our approach is strongly influenced by the EYFS Birth to Five Matters guidance and follows a curiosity-led approach to learning. We encourage children to ask questions, investigate, problem solve, and take managed risks within a safe, supportive environment.
We love an adventure! Whether this involves jumping in muddy puddles, climbing trees, exploring woodland areas, visiting animals, pond dipping, or bug hunting, we believe children should have the freedom to discover, challenge themselves, and develop through play.
Risky play is an important part of our provision and always takes place under the careful supervision of experienced adults. Children learn how to safely light fires using our Kelly Kettle and fire pit. They also learn to use real tools, including axes for chopping sticks, hammers and nails for building flower beds, drills for creating masterpieces, and saws during woodwork activities.
These experiences support children’s fine and gross motor development, coordination, confidence, resilience, problem-solving abilities, and self-awareness. Most importantly, they help children learn how to assess risks, stay safe, and develop independence — skills we believe are essential foundations for school readiness and life beyond preschool.
Outdoor learning is not simply something we do; it is part of everything we believe in.
