At Shotley Bridge Nursery School, the Great Outdoors isn’t just a playground—it’s a classroom, a wonderland, and an endless source of inspiration. Our passion for nature and outdoor learning shapes every aspect of our approach to early childhood education, creating an environment where children can flourish, explore, and develop a lifelong love for the natural world.
Embracing Nature’s Classroom
From the moment you step into our nursery, you’ll notice the difference. Our indoor spaces are designed to bring the outside in, with an array of natural materials, earthy colours, and plants creating a calming, nature-inspired atmosphere. But it’s when we step outside that the real magic happens.
Our adaptable outdoor space provides a multitude of opportunities that ignite exploration, calculated risk-taking, and imaginative play. Here, you’ll find children building dens, experimenting in our mud kitchen, planting seeds in our vegetable garden, and observing wildlife in their natural habitats. Every day brings new discoveries and learning opportunities.
Learning Through Nature
At Shotley Bridge Nursery, we believe that nature provides the perfect context for learning across all areas of development. Our outdoor opportunities are designed to support:
- Physical development: Negotiating obstacles such as tyres, balance beams, ladders, climbing walls and uneven terrain promotes the development of children’s gross motor and proprioception skills.
- Cognitive skills: Observing seasonal changes, identifying plants and animals, and solving problems in nature-based play enhances critical thinking and scientific understanding. Taking calculated physical risks also promotes the development of executive function skills, as children learn to independently implement measures to keep themselves safe whilst exploring their own physical limitations.
- Social and emotional growth: Collaborative outdoor projects and shared discoveries foster teamwork, communication, and emotional resilience.
- Creativity and imagination: Natural loose parts like sticks, leaves, and pebbles become tools for open-ended, imaginative play.
Seasonal Celebrations
We embrace the changing seasons, seeing each as an opportunity for new experiences and learning. From splashing in puddles during rainy spring days to crunching through autumn leaves and building snowmen in winter – we embrace our true ‘Weather wonderer’ approach, celebrating the magic Mother Nature offers. Our weekly nature walks also help children understand the rhythms of nature and their place within it.
Nurturing Environmental Stewards
The biophilia hypothesis explores human’s natural desire to seek connection with nature and other forms of life. By nurturing this instinct, we support children to foster a deep connection with nature from an early age in efforts to create a generation committed to sustainable ways of life. Our children learn about sustainability through hands-on experiences like composting, recycling, and observation of animal life cycles. Children develop empathy for living things and an understanding of their impact on the environment.
A Community Connected to Nature
Our passion for the outdoors extends beyond the nursery gates. Children engage with local litter picks and the aforementioned weekly nature walks provide a vital opportunity for children to learn about wildlife and their role in preserving local ecosystems. Families are encouraged to get involved with collections of natural resources for use in our open-ended provision which not only strengthens our nursery community, but also help families discover the joys of outdoor exploration together.
At Shotley Bridge Nursery School, we’re committed to providing an education that goes beyond the confines of four walls. By harnessing the power of nature, we’re nurturing curious, confident, and caring individuals with a deeper understanding of the natural world. Join us in our outdoor adventure, and watch your child grow, learn, and thrive in nature’s embrace.
www.shotleybridge-nurseryschool.co.uk
Call: 01207 581 700
