We aim to give children at least 180 minutes of outdoor activity per day.
The benefits and possibilities with outdoor play are endless. At Wise Owls we believe it is essential that all young children have frequent and regular opportunities to explore and learn in an outdoor environment. Outdoor learning is an integral part of how we learn at Wise Owls, and is enjoyed through all four seasons.
By promoting good health and regular physical activity, we will positively contribute to early brain development and learning. We will actively promote effective communication skills including language, body language and non-verbal communication, e.g. expressions, during outdoor activities.
By creating games and providing opportunities for play outdoors, we will support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility.
Through outdoor play we will support every child’s problem-solving skills and nurture their creativity, as well as provide rich opportunities for their developing imagination, inventiveness and resourcefulness.
Forests and woodlands are an exciting place to learn.
Not only do they provide enriching experiences across all seven areas of the Early Years curriculum, the rich array of smells, sounds and textures, the dramatic contrasts of light and dark, and the treasure trove of natural learning resources offer an inspiring sensory environment for children to spread their wings and grow.
Spending time outdoors builds resilience, encourages children to take well measured risks, builds confidence and enhances self esteem. It also teaches children about the important role our forests and woodlands play in our world.
Personal Development
Develop personal skills and pursue knowledge that interests every individual. Build resilience and improve concentration skills.
Social Development
Develop good social skills and build positive relationships with adults and peers. Expand vocabulary and enhance communications skills.
Physical Development
Improve physical motor skills such as climbing, balancing, running and jumping. Explore connections between ourselves and the world around us.
Health & Wellbeing
Understand the benefits of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Learn how to assess and take appropriate risks and build self esteem through a sense of achievement.
Things you can do in a forest or woodland
Forest School uses natural resources to stimulate imagination, creativity and investigation. Opportunities are endless and activities can include:
Shelter building
Natural art
Using knots and lashings
Fire lighting
Animal tracking
Bug hunts
Tree investigations
Climbing and balancing
Creating bug homes and bird feeders
Collecting, identifying and sorting natural materials, such as leaves, sticks, acorns
Team games
