Outdoor learning is a vital part of the early years curriculum in the UK, and it has been shown to have numerous benefits for children’s physical and mental health, social and emotional development, and academic achievement.

When children learn outdoors, they are able to explore and engage with their natural environment. This can help them to develop a deeper understanding of the world around them, as well as their place in it.

Outdoor learning can also help children to develop a range of important skills, such as problem-solving, creativity, and risk-taking. Additionally, it can provide them with opportunities to socialise and collaborate with others in a fun and informal setting.

There are many different ways to incorporate outdoor learning into the early years curriculum. Here are a few ideas:

1. Do an audit of how outdoor resources are being used.

This could include a sandpit, water trough, mud kitchen, climbing frame, and gardening area. This could also include the use of tools and materials that they use to explore and be creative, such as magnifying glasses, spades, and construction materials. From this we can begin to adapt and plan to ensure the best learning outcomes for our learners.

2. Plan outdoor activities that are linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.

 For example, you could take children on a nature walk to learn about different plants and animals, or you could plant seeds in the garden to learn about the life cycle of a plant.

3. Provide children with opportunities to learn through play outdoors.

For example, you could set up a scavenger hunt for children to find different objects in nature, or you could create a mud kitchen where children can experiment with different textures and smells.

4. Encourage children to use their senses when learning outdoors.

This could involve listening to the sounds of birds, smelling the flowers, or tasting different fruits and vegetables.

5. Talk to children about what they are seeing and doing outdoors.

This will help them develop vocabulary, process their experiences and learn from them.

Here are some additional tips for incorporating outdoor learning into the early years curriculum:

• Start small

If you are new to outdoor learning, start by taking children outside for short periods of time each day. As children become more comfortable and confident, you can gradually increase the amount of time they spend outdoors.

• Be flexible

Outdoor learning is all about adapting to the weather and the children’s interests. If it is raining, you can still take children outside to play in puddles or to explore the garden under umbrellas. And if the children are particularly interested in a particular activity, you can spend more time developing the possibility of that area or resource.

• Dress appropriately

Make sure that children have appropriate clothing for all weather conditions. This will help them to stay warm and dry, and it will also allow them to move around freely and safely. This also helps them make decisions and become more organised.

• Supervise children closely

 It is important to supervise children closely when they are learning outdoors, to spot learning opportunities as well as when they’re using tools or other equipment.

Outdoor learning is a wonderful way for children to learn and grow. By following the tips above, you can easily incorporate outdoor learning into your early years curriculum and provide children with a rich and rewarding learning experience.