The Impact of Outdoor learning
By Claudette Gregory, Teacher, Little Broomwood (Pre-school, age 3-4 years)
Children at Little Broomwood are not afraid of getting muddy! Outdoor learning known as ‘Welly Time’ is an essential part of our Early Years educational philosophy and, regardless of the weather, we take our children into the garden to explore and learn. If it’s raining, we gather around puddles to discuss the importance of water whilst splashing and playing. On blustery days you might see our boys and girls racing around with colourful streamers on sticks, as they observe the direction of the wind.
Soon we will go on our spring walk in Clapham Common where we look at the transformation of nature, from blooming flowers to the sounds of the birds. It is a simple and effective way to introduce the concepts of seasons and the environment. These sensory experiences foster a sense of wonder and engagement that traditional classroom setting.
Outdoor learning is also a vehicle we use for our ‘Understanding the World ‘curriculum. Last week we celebrated Lunar New Year, and the children did a dragon dance together, weaving around the maze in our adventure playground. Whilst having fun, they were also learning about coordination and teamwork and exercising their imaginations. We lit a fire – because dragons breathe fire – and whilst enjoying the blaze, we talked about fire safety and its importance in various cultures. In our ‘Witches and Wizards’ topic, pupils played in our mud kitchen, mixing potions and crafting stories.
Listening to our children’s interests is an integral part of the Broomwood ‘Welly Time’. When studying hibernating animals, for example, they expressed a desire to create dens in the garden for themselves. This led to the construction of various camps, where they worked together to explore their ideas. Such responsive teaching nurtures their ownership of the learning process and encourages them to express their thoughts freely. They are never too young to learn problem-solving skills!
As they move into Reception, Broomwood children continue to develop life skills in their outdoor learning sessions. We believe these experiences create a solid foundation for future academic success, resilience and personal development. The skills they acquire now will serve them well as they progress in their education.