Outdoor Provision

Outdoor Learning – Explore, Discover and Grow

At LearnAid Nursery, our outdoor play area is much more than a place to play. It is a carefully planned and well-resourced outdoor learning environment designed to spark curiosity, inspire imagination and support children's learning and development across the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

We believe that outdoor learning provides children with experiences that cannot always be replicated indoors. Our practitioners therefore use the outdoor environment to extend children's learning, giving them opportunities to explore, investigate, experiment, take appropriate risks and discover the world around them through first-hand experiences.

Taking Learning Outdoors

Our outdoor provision extends many of the learning opportunities available within our indoor environment. Children can experience water play, sand, construction, imaginative play, creative activities and physical challenges in a larger and more open environment.

Practitioners also incorporate children's current interests and learning topics into outdoor activities, creating meaningful opportunities for children to apply and extend what they have been learning indoors.

🌱 LearnAid Family Grow Garden – From Seed to Plate

One of the special features of our outdoor provision is our LearnAid Family Grow Garden, where children are actively involved in growing and caring for our own herbs, fruit and vegetables.

Throughout the year, children have opportunities to plant seeds, water and care for their plants, observe changes, watch them grow and eventually harvest the produce themselves.

Our children grow a variety of produce including mint, coriander, parsley, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries and other seasonal fruit and vegetables.

This provides wonderful first-hand learning opportunities. Rather than simply being told where food comes from, children can experience the whole journey for themselves – from planting a tiny seed, to watching it grow, harvesting it and finally preparing and eating the food they have helped to produce.

Once our vegetables and herbs are ready, children help to harvest and clean the produce, and where appropriate it is incorporated into cooking activities or our freshly prepared nursery meals.

This helps children develop an early understanding of where food comes from, healthy eating, nature, sustainability and caring for the environment, while supporting their understanding of the world.

It also encourages patience and responsibility as children discover that plants need water, sunlight, care and time before they can enjoy the results of their hard work.

🍎 Our Fruit Garden – Pick, Prepare & Enjoy

Our outdoor environment also includes our own fruit-growing area, including our home-grown apples.

Children have the exciting opportunity to watch the fruit develop and, when it is ready, pick apples directly from our own trees.

The learning doesn't end when the fruit is picked. Children can enjoy their freshly picked apples at snack time and take part in cooking experiences such as using our home-grown apples to make apple crumble.

These simple but meaningful experiences can generate wonderful conversations and questions: How did the apple grow? What's inside it? Why are there seeds? What happens when we cook it?

By allowing children to experience the complete journey from growing → harvesting → preparing → cooking → eating, we encourage curiosity and give children a meaningful understanding of food, nature and the world around them.

Learning About Our World

Our Grow Garden provides opportunities to develop learning across many areas of the EYFS.

Children naturally encounter early mathematics as they count seeds and vegetables, compare sizes and observe growth. Their communication and language develops through conversations, questions and new vocabulary. Digging, planting, watering and harvesting support physical development, while patiently caring for plants encourages responsibility, confidence and independence.

It also provides opportunities to develop children's understanding of seasons, weather, insects, plants, healthy food and the natural environment.

Through our Islamic ethos, we can also encourage children to appreciate the beauty of the natural world, develop gratitude for the food we have and understand the importance of caring for Allah's creation and avoiding unnecessary waste.

🏃 Developing Strong and Confident Little Learners

Outdoor play is also essential for children's physical development. Our children have opportunities to run, climb, balance, jump, explore and play freely, helping them develop their strength, coordination, balance and gross motor skills.

The additional space and freedom of the outdoors allows children to challenge themselves physically, build confidence and develop an understanding of managing appropriate risks.

☔ Learning in All Weathers

A little rain doesn't stop our learning!

Our sheltered outdoor play area means children can continue experiencing outdoor learning in different weather conditions.

We encourage children to experience the changing seasons and natural environment throughout the year, helping them develop curiosity about rain, sunshine, wind, temperature, plants and seasonal changes.

Growing More Than Fruit and Vegetables

At LearnAid Nursery, our garden isn't simply about growing food. It is about growing curiosity, responsibility, knowledge and confidence.

Whether children are planting their first seed, digging for potatoes, pulling up a carrot, smelling fresh mint, picking an apple from our tree or helping turn their home-grown produce into something delicious to eat, they are experiencing learning that is real, memorable and meaningful.

At LearnAid Nursery, our little learners don't just learn where food comes from – they experience the journey for themselves.

LearnAid Nursery – Learn, Play and Grow.