Outdoor Learning
At Burlington Infants, we want to make teaching and learning as enjoyable and as engaging as possible.
Research shows that being outdoors has huge benefits for children, both physically and mentally. There are 9 main ways that children benefit from learning and playing outside:
Build confidence and independence
Building dens, navigating with a compass, using tools in woodwork are just some of the activities that instill children with confidence and a sense of independence.Feeling empathy for others and nature
Working as a team in a natural setting helps bond children as a group. It also makes them aware of the need to care for each other and the environment.Physical fitness
Running around and climbing trees helps develop muscle strength, aerobic fitness and co-ordination.Health benefits
Studies have highlighted a multitude of health benefits to being outside, with sunlight boosting serotonin, the chemical linked to feelings of well-being, while vitamin D, which is essential for bone and muscle health, is also provided by the sun’s rays.Improved mental health
Children today are experiencing increased stress caused by a range of pressures, from school exams and tests to social media. Mental health professionals acknowledge that maintaining a relationship with nature can be very helpful in supporting children’s emotional and mental well-being.Learning by experience
Research shows that young children learn best from experience, by using their senses actively rather than passively, and it’s via these experiences that learning remains with us into adulthood.Exposure to manageable risk
Outdoors, children can run and make a noise, get their hands dirty and experience manageable risk, which is essential for healthy child development, through activities such as den building, supervised fire making and cooking.Better sleep and mood
Children – and adults – sleep more deeply after either playing outside or going for a long walk, and moods can lift just from breathing in a few lungfuls of fresh air!Learning about spiritual meaning
Outside the confines of four walls, without the distractions of electronic devices and excessive supervision, children can move, explore and discover at their own pace, connecting to the natural world – a place not created by man, that had deep spiritual meaning for our ancestors.
Here is a video of our Reception children learning outdoors so far this year…
‘Had fab support – thanks’
‘I’d like to thank the staff for making my son’s first year at school lovely. He’s come on so much. I feel they have supported his needs so well. Thank you!’
‘Thank you so much for being so brilliant! We will miss you’
‘The support we have received this year has been above and beyond and I cannot thank my child’s teacher enough for her caring and loving nature with my daughter with her emotional well-being during Reception.’
‘So happy with Burlington Infants. Been a lovely few years.’
‘Our son is very happy at this school and has thrived since coming into Reception, he loves coming to school.’
‘My child has really enjoyed her time at this school, thank you for making her experience enjoyable.’
‘The girls have loved their time at Burlington Infants, such a well run and excellent school. Thank you for the last 3 years especially in the extraordinary circumstances.’
‘My child has really enjoyed his time in Year One.’
‘Absolutely over the moon with this school!’
‘Fabulous journey through Infants as usual!’
‘Excellent school – really happy with the progress my child is making. Staff are lovely and welcoming and always have a smile on their faces.’
‘Lovely school, end of an era, highly recommend!’
‘My child’s improvements are so great. He has come a long way in the last year and you can really tell. Very happy with his progress.’