Despite a wet and windy start to the week, children and staff braved the elements to make the most of the nursery and wider school grounds, enjoying the incredible benefits of learning and playing outside.

In the Baby Room, the little ones had a fantastic time exploring the garden. Staff member David brought in his hammock, which proved a big hit with both children and staff, and also created a den attached to the playhouse. The babies loved exploring the mud kitchen, making mud cakes and splashing in puddles, as well as experimenting with the pots and pans on the counters. Walks around the school grounds were as popular as ever, giving the babies the chance to take in the fresh air and discover new sights and sounds. The parachute was another highlight, with many of the babies squealing with delight as it rose and fell with the adults’ guidance.

The Toddlers also had a jam-packed week. They kicked things off with a nature tally, collecting leaves, sticks, pinecones, and other natural objects to group and count. Later in the week, they created colourful chalk pictures outside using a variety of chalk sizes, and made their own paper boats, decorating them with wax crayons to seal them ready for floating. Their coordination and aiming skills were put to the test with a ring toss game, and they ended the week by gathering a huge collection of leaves to create a beautiful leaf garland back in the nursery.

Meanwhile, the Pre-School children embraced every opportunity to get outside, even in the rain! They made leaf rubbings, created mud pies and cakes, played a giant outdoor snakes and ladders game, and used natural materials to decorate their playdough ‘pizzas.’ Walks in the grounds allowed the children to explore the natural environment further, learning about fungus and berries, spotting squirrels, ducks, deer, and a variety of birds, and even observing dogs with their owners on the other side of the school boundary. Inspired by the Gruffalo story, they hunted for the animals’ homes—the owl’s treetop house, the snake’s log pile, and the fox’s underground den—and tried to find the Gruffalo’s own secret dwelling.

Outdoor learning is known to have incredible benefits for child development, and this week was a perfect example of why time spent in nature is so valuable. Children thrive when they are outside: their communication skills improve significantly, they engage more fully with their peers, and they talk and collaborate around 50% more than they do indoors. Above all, Outdoor Week was filled with laughter, adventure, and lots of muddy fun, demonstrating just how enriching and joyful learning in nature can be.