Nursery World - EYFS Best Practice: All about... Outdoor nurseries

Settings based on outdoor learning are growing in popularity - and
providing focused, creative provision inspired by their individual
environments. Nicole Weinstein takes a look at some of the different
approaches on offer around the UK and the benefits for children.

Outdoor nurseries are on the rise across the UK. This year alone, five have opened in London, with another five opening in Scotland, including the third in a social enterprise 'chain' of outdoor settings, called Stramash.

Also known as forest kindergartens, nature nurseries or forest pre-schools, no two outdoor nurseries are the same. Some have buildings, others have shelters. Some are semi-nomadic, such as two of the well-established outdoor nurseries like The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery in Fife and the Woodlands Outdoor Kindergartens in Glasgow, while others stay largely on-site, such as Little Explorers at Highway Farm in Cornwall.

What all have in common is their focus on learning outdoors and the fact that children spend the bulk of their time there - 90 per cent of the day all year round as a rule of thumb.

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