Wildly Exploring! – Active, Natural Outdoor Learning in the Early Years
Staff conducted a small scale qualitative research study within the establishment to investigate parental attitudes towards children’s free, active involvement in outdoor play within their natural environment. The staff team consulted with children, parents, outdoor quality improvement officer and local park rangers to devise and implement a forest schools approach to further extend the establishments outdoor play provision. Through consultation with stakeholders, revised aims and principles for outdoor play were developed in order to increase children’s active physical involvement in free play, helping to develop their cognitive and mental wellbeing, as they engage in experiential learning within their natural environment Through identifying learning intentions from Curriculum for Excellence, specifically addressing the three national priorities of Health and Wellbeing, Literacy and English, Numeracy and Maths, children were provided with opportunities to actively engage in free play learning experiences, developing confidence and self esteem as they challenged themselves through their play and learning within the woodland setting. Staff observed children in their play, scaffolding their learning through sensitive interactions. Children were invited to record their learning experiences within a floor book, recalling their play and sharing their thoughts and ideas with their friends. This process also helped to inform assessment and future planning.
As a result of children’s involvement in the initial stages of the programme, staff have observed the children demonstrating a growing awareness of caring for their environment through their positive engagement in active learning within their natural environment. Children have recorded their learning within floorbooks and have been encouraged to engage in dialogue, promoting their literacy skills. Throughout the introduction of the programme, children have been consulted on all aspects of the planning and implementation, helping to promote their awareness of making informed decisions and carrying out planned experiences. Staff have observed children’s growing confidence as they engaged in physical and mental challenging learning experiences, helping them to build positive relationships through active play within a natural setting.
Although the programme is in its initial stages of implementation, the first cohort of children who have participated in the programme have demonstrated a growing awareness of personal achievement as they continue to challenge their own physical abilities and engage in problem solving experiences, helping to build resilience and confidence. Through observations of children’s active engagement in the programme, staff have recorded that children have developed a deeper understanding of how to assess and manage risk in their active play within a natural environment. As children returned to the nursery environment, they continued their learning within the outdoor play area, reconstructing their play experiences using natural resources. This has also helped to further develop children’s confidence in their learning as they share their experiences with their peers. Children are continuing to develop their awareness of how to reflect upon their learning, exploring how to recognise their strengths and skills through their active play.
The staff team have secured a permanent site within Drumpellier Country Park to access on a weekly basis. An identified group of children are invited to participate in the weekly programme, which runs across a six week period.
The success of the programme has been recognised by the nursery gaining a finalist placing in the PAHA Awards 2012.
Learning Intentions:
Numeracy and Maths (Measurement, MNU0-11a): I have experimented with everyday items as units of measure to investigate and compare sizes and amounts in my environment, sharing my findings with others.
Literacy (Listening and Talking, LIT 0-04a): I listen and watch for useful or interesting information and I can use this to make choices or learn new things.
Literacy (writing code): As I play and learn, I enjoy exploring interesting materials for writing and different ways of recording my experiences and feelings, ideas and information.
Health and Wellbeing (Physical Wellbeing, HWB 0-16a): I am learning to assess and manage risk to protect myself and others and to reduce the potential harm where possible.
Science (Materials, SCN 0-15a): Through creative play, I explore different materials and can share my reasoning for selecting materials for different purposes.
