What is Outdoor Learning?
What is Outdoor Learning?
Outdoor learning uses outdoor space as the classroom. Children learn in the natural surroundings, and outdoor learning offers child-centred learning experiences through; play, exploration, adventure, creativity, curiosity and building resilience when taking risks.
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Our Outdoor Spaces
At St Mary's, we are fortunate to be able to have permission to use Holmehill Woods, which is a 5 minute walk from the school. The woods are perfect for engaging with the outdoors and nature. There are trees to climb, we set up hammocks, cook on a fire and learn to use tools. We also build dens and bring resources which allow us to investigate nature in more detail.
In the playground and nursery garden, children have access to loose parts to support early STEM development. We also have bikes, a mud kitchen and role playing areas. We are also experts in supporting our children to learn all about gardening; we plant flowers and vegetables all year round.
Benefits of Outdoor Play
Engaging in Nature
Engaging in Nature
Outdoor learning gives children the opportunity to explore, play and make decisions in the outdoors, promoting confidence and independence.
It connects children with nature, developing their knowledge of the natural world and supports their understanding of being respectful to our environment.
Children learn to be respectful of the environment and develop knowledge of sustainability.
Developing Skills
Developing Skills
Outdoor learning gives children the opportunity to learn new skills. We offer children the opportunity to use tools, garden, cook and how to light the fire outside.
Outdoor play allows children to develop their problem solving, creative thinking as well as their early STEM skills.
Outdoor learning also allows for children to build resilience and is fantastic for their social and emotional development.
Dedicated Forest Days
Dedicated Forest Days
The nursery attend the forest each week, beginning with an initial 6 weeks of experiences, which supports them to grow in confidence in the forest environment and is also child-led.
With a Level 3 Forest Leader in the nursery, children each week can grow in confidence in climbing trees, whittling, making fires, building dens and chilling in our hammocks.
The nursery bring literacy, numeracy and other STEM skills into outdoor learning at the woods.
St Mary's Episcopal Primary and Nursery School
Smithy Loan
Dunblane
FK15 0HQ
Tel: 01786 822 740
Email: stmaryeps@stirling.gov.uk
Instagram: stmarysprimaryschooldunblane
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