Early Years Foundation Stage
Outdoor Learning is a crucial element of the EYFS framework. It is essential that young children regularly get the opportunity to explore and learn in an outdoor environment, ideally assigning it of equal importance to their learning indoors. This promotes healthy and active lifestyles as children have space to develop their capabilities on a different scale to inside the classroom. Children will gain unique experiences outdoors, using their senses to explore weather, seasons and living things.
Opportunities for children in an outdoor setting
Learning to manage risk
Key message: ‘Play is great for children’s well-being and development. When planning and providing play opportunities, the goal is not to eliminate risk, but to weigh up the risks and benefits. No child will learn about risk if they are wrapped in cotton wool’. (HSE, 2012)
In an outdoor environment children learn to manage their own risks. Our role is simply to eliminate hazards which they may not see and then to let them take us on their own learning adventure. Outdoor discoveries, imaginary play, exploration, nature and science, big spaces that afford climbing, crouching, rolling, mixing, painting and building; all within a risk-assessed environment allow children to be safe to do, rather than safe from doing.
In an outdoor environment children learn to manage their own risks. Our role is simply to eliminate hazards which they may not see and then to let them take us on their own learning adventure. Outdoor discoveries, imaginary play, exploration, nature and science, big spaces that afford climbing, crouching, rolling, mixing, painting and building; all within a risk-assessed environment allow children to be safe to do, rather than safe from doing.
Ideas for activities
All activities have been designed to be carried out in an outdoor setting with a concrete playground or local park using minimal, low cost resources. Many of the resources are flexible and can be used in a number of different activities. Good provision comes from making the most of the space and resources you have combined with a positive, enthusiastic and engaged attitude from adults. Together these facilitate meaningful learning experiences for the young children in your care that will vitally support their holistic development.
Click on the links below to access a range of activities relating to the Early learning goals in:
Click on the links below to access a range of activities relating to the Early learning goals in: