Outdoor Learning and Play

Adding a woodwork area to your setting can be a wonderful way to inspire play and learning in a fun, hands on way. The nature of woodwork means that children are engaged in a rich, sensory experience which impacts on the holistic development of the child. Getting started... Firstly, communication with everyone involved is a good starting point. It's important...

Minibeasts are a source of endless fascination for children...and often grown ups too. This interest might stem from finding bugs in the garden, a change in the seasons and the emergence of bees and butterflies or a book the children have particularly enjoyed. Educators can extend this interest, covering all seven areas of learning across the Early Years Foundation Stage...

Are you a green-fingered garden lover, or more inclined to put your feet up on the deck? We’re a bit of both at Cosy, but we know well that getting out and growing things in the garden is such a wonderful activity. Benefits of gardening with little ones are varied, from observing change over time and the sensory fun that...

This outdoor box is ideal to explore Maths in the great outdoors. There are many ways of using this box and we are sure that children will come up with even more ideas. Simply use discs and sticks provided and encourage children to add natural treasures, such as stones, sticks, flowers, petals, acorns and more. This new Maths crate is...

Getting outdoors to explore nature is a vital part of early years education, and childhood as a whole. A well-planned learning environment, indoors and outside, is an important aspect of pedagogy. It can be as simple as grabbing your wellies and going on a bug hunt. Renowned educator Charlotte Mason shares that you should ‘never be indoors when you could...

The outdoor environment can hold tremendous value when it comes to inspiring mathematical play and learning.  There is a whole world of possibilities, free from the confines of the classroom.  In the outdoors, children have greater opportunity to play on a bigger, messier and noisier scale, making it a place where we can encourage future mathematicians. However, it’s important to...

The joy of the crate and the magic they bring to play stems from them being an open-ended resource. There is no right or wrong way to play with a crate, making them a valuable resource, both indoors and outdoors. They appeal to children’s natural drive to be curious and to experiment within their environment. By incorporating crates into play...

Are you ready for the RSPB's Big Garden Bird Watch? What activities have you got planned? We have a few ideas below. Did you know that we have lost 38 million birds from UK skies in the last 50 years, so it really is vital we do all we can to look after our birdlife (source: RSPB). Children love to...

Wonderful Wicker! Creating a natural, cosy classroom or setting can be so beneficial to the well-being of both children and staff alike. Adding wicker elements helps to break up the space, creating a more cosy, natural environment. From our cosy wicker pods and dens to a wicker archway - both can be staple pieces in creating a more natural space...

We know that some of you only have small outdoor spaces, whether that be at school, in a nursery or childcare setting, home garden, childminding or pack away group setting. Here we give multi-functional ideas for small outdoor spaces that are totally adaptable, multi-functional resource ideas for a range of activities. Shedlets Perfect for the space-hungry setting, to house all...