Outdoor Learning
Outdoor learning seeks to encourage, motivate, engage and inspire children through positive outdoor experiences. Outdoor learning is closely entwined with the concepts of following the children’s interests whilst learning through play. Play is a crucial element in supporting children’s health, development and well-being and it means through which they experiment, develop their abilities, get creative and explore and create and explore the world around them. Effective play enables children to explore and create rules and understandings; develop resilience; be active; be creative and imaginative; practice new skills; learn about risks; stimulate their senses and build friendships and relationships.
Outdoor learning Play can contribute immensely to children’s enjoyment of school life and provide theraputic function by helping them to deal with circumstances and issues that can occur in their lives. Outdoor learning is an integral part of Early Years. At Marden Lodge, we are fortunate to have a forest area. We call this area 'Funky Forest' and sessions here take place weekly with planned activities that children can choose to do. The focus of our Funky Forest sessions are to promote oracy. Through play children’s ideas are recorded and photos are taken. These ideas are then brought back to the classroom for the children to discuss as a group.
