Why is outdoor learning important in education?

Set within thirty acres of glorious Dorset countryside, children regularly take their learning outside on the school grounds.

Irrespective of the weather and the lesson, there are always learning opportunities outdoors such as story-making, art, den building, orienteering and maths investigations.

Giving our children the space and freedom to move, explore and discover outdoors is a key focus of our learning, where play is encouraged and inspired. 

Outdoor learning stimulates the brain and enhances body development; this learning is embedded as part of our ethos and is an integral part of our curriculum. As a result, children at Bryanston Prep have daily access to an abundance of learning opportunities and experiences outside.

We encourage children to participate in daily activities that focus on the key movement senses, tactile, proprioception and vestibular, to support their learning and overall development.

The grounds provide a fabulous classroom, and children can engage in learning that is real and hands-on, creative and exciting.

Learning through play

Children are included in planning activities, sharing what they know and what they would like to learn about, in Nursery and Reception by using ‘thinking tubs’.

This is their opportunity to have exciting and structured activities planned based on their ideas and interests by the teaching staff.

Each week, there are planned activities in Reception and Nursery for the children, called ‘Out and About sessions’ with the reception class teacher.

These sessions take the children outdoors on our beautiful grounds and allow them to develop and extend their knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the world we live in.