Outdoor Learning At St Nicholas

What does Outdoor Learning look like at St Nicholas?

Outdoor learning ‘takes learners into natural settings with an emphasis on experimental learning and building confidence and self-esteem’ (James, M 2018).

Outdoor door learning is a broad term, which covers a wide range of learning activities in the outside environment.  These include; outdoor learning through play, school grounds projects and nature studies.  The outside environment provides a vast contrast to the indoor classroom. Good quality outdoor teaching can add value to classroom learning especially with concepts that are difficult to teach effectively using only classroom methods.

At St. Nicholas School, we believe outdoor learning provides our children with the opportunity to explore their natural environment safely in order to foster their self-confidence and understanding of nature. We offer targeted outdoor learning teaching for all children. Outdoor learning sessions focus on developing the children’s knowledge and love of nature. The EYFS and Key Stage 1 also have access to outdoor learning spaces attached to their classrooms.  Within these areas, children are able to learn through experimental play, developing curriculum learning as well as building on their confidence, self-esteem, communication, enquiry and problem solving skills.