Tag

outdoor play

07/05/2021

Ideas On How to Take Learning Outdoors

This blog has been written with the help of industry expert and early years teacher Gemma Unsworth. Gemma’s 18 years’ worth of early years teaching experience includes her roles as KS1 manager, local authority moderator and early years special leader of education (SLE) for the North West. In this post she describes her experience in implementing outdoor learning and offers her tips and advice. Follow Gemma on Instagram for further inspiration and activity ideas for outdoor learning. “The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky”... Read More

14/04/2021

All about the Forest School Approach to Learning

This article has been written by Rachel Macbeth-Webb, a level 3 Forest trained practitioner, co-founder and manager of Beatle Woods, an Outstanding Ofsted setting and the first completely outdoor nursery in Solihull. In this post she shares her insights into Forest School and the importance of outdoor learning. For more information about Rachel and Beatle Woods, visit their website. What is Forest School? Forest school is a long-term sustained approach to outdoor learning which seeks to encourage and motivate children to be actively engaged with their outdoor environment and foster... Read More

Outdoor Maths 18/09/2020
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Tips and Tricks on Taking Maths Outside!

During these unprecedented times we are always looking at ways in which we can adapt and switch up the environment we work in. Now more than ever we are looking for new ways that children can learn numeracy in a safe environment. Whether this is in Primary School or Nursery, with your Childminder or Homeschooling, we have the tips and tricks to adapt your usual teaching style to suit your outdoor maths lessons. So why not take the children outdoors and use the endless amount of space to explore how... Read More

outdoor maths activities for early years 17/06/2020
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Outdoor Maths Activities for Early Years

“What is mathematics? It is a systematic effort of solving puzzles posed by nature” – Shakuntala Devi Taking Early Learning and Maths Outdoors Looking for a more hands on approach to teaching maths? Summer is the perfect time to take mathematics outdoors! Try our outdoor maths activities to make outdoor learning fun and exciting. Outdoors is the perfect setting for many cross-curricular early learning opportunities, as it encourages physical activity and sparks a greater curiosity. Not only do children get the benefit of being out in the fresh air surrounded... Read More

gardening benefits for children 30/08/2018
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Gardening Benefits & Activities for Children

Spending Time Outdoors Benefits Children’s Health & Well-Being Encouraging children to put down the smartphone and spend time outside can seem like a daunting task. At present, children on average only spend 16 minutes a day outside, and less than 24% of kids meet the daily recommended levels of physical activity. Spending time outside can significantly impact children’s health and well-being. After doing outdoor physical activity, children are 28x more likely to eat healthier foods. They’ll also feel more relaxed, get a workout – whether it’s their upper arms from... Read More

outdoor learning experience 19/07/2018

Outdoor Learning Benefits for Early Years

This article has been written by early years consultant, Anne Rodgers, from ATR Consultancy. What can children learn and experience outdoors? Children can learn and experience many things in the outdoor environment and being outdoors helps them to establish a healthy and active lifestyle. It offers children opportunities to use their bodies physically by engaging in activity with freedom of movement. This will help them to become confident in their abilities and support those children who learn best when outdoors or through activity and movement. Children will learn to run, climb,... Read More

04/07/2018
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Outdoor Activities for Physical Development in Early Years

The Importance of Physical Activity and Outdoor Play   Don’t underestimate the importance of physical development! It’s important for children to remain active throughout the day, especially as we are seeing an increase in screen time and the use of technology. On top of this it is crucial to promote physical activity from an early age to help to prevent the growing problem of childhood obesity. Toddlers and pre-schoolers should be taught the value of physical activity (both indoors and outdoors), so not only can they reap the benefits of... Read More

den play activities and ideas 28/06/2018
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Den Play Activities and Den Building Ideas

“A den is the child’s chance to create a home away from home that is secret, and becomes a manifestation of who they are” – David Sopel Who didn’t build a homemade fort out of bed sheets when they were little? Den building and den play brings a lot of joy and happiness to childhood and engages children for hours with endless role play adventure opportunities! Children just love creating their own little imaginative world and hideaway, where they can make up their own rules, scenarios and language – and... Read More

outdoor playground benefits 28/06/2018

How Outdoor Play Benefits Children

Are you making the most of your school’s playground area? With the continuing rise of technology, it is even more important to balance indoor play with outdoor play. Nowadays, children are spending one quarter as long playing outside as their parents did just one generation ago! Outdoor play introduces children to a new learning environment and increases exercise. With growing childhood obesity rates, anything that we can do to inspire children to enjoy time outdoors is to be encouraged. Most schools do have playgrounds, but not all schools are making... Read More

outdoor childminding setting 26/06/2018
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Maximising Your Outdoor Learning Space

This article has been written by OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ Childminders, Chloe Webster & Bridgit Brown, from Pebbles Childcare. As a home-based childcare provision, we are not blessed with significant amounts of space, and similarly, a large sum of money to put into buying a range of outdoor resources that larger settings benefit from. However, we believe and are huge advocates of utilising the space we have and using a diverse range of equipment and resources in order to meet the learning and development needs of the children in our care. We... Read More