Outdoor play and learning

In a society often disconnected from nature, children engaging in outdoor play and learning in the natural environment is essential. This gives all children opportunities to gain valuable new skills that would otherwise be missed. 

Inspired by the Forest School approach and other theories into outdoor learning, here at Cassiltoun Stables children are outdoor every day. 

Children grow in confidence, work as a team and discover all the wonder that nature has to offer. Hands on experiences in a natural setting encourage children to assess risk safely and give the chance to develop a relationship with the outdoor environment; encouraging positive mental health and well-being in a place not confined by walls.

Outdoor learning gives children the opportunity to amaze and delight in the every day at their own pace, alongside supportive adults who build upon children’s interests.  

The forest and woodlands are always changing, always different from one day to the next. This allows expansion of language, problem solving, open ended materials for imaginative play, space, exploration about life cycles, nature, science, the changing of seasons. 

There are endless possibilities in imagination and inquisitive play when you are outdoors and they are the building blocks of a child's lifelong relationship with learning. 

Forest sessions are set up for small groups of children to access our local woodland on a weekly basis. The group learns to work together, build secure and trusting relationships, and week by week develop their environment as their confidence grows. On their adventures they visit the same woodland site for the duration of their forest block, they will be den building, making mud monsters, learning to create shelter, and lots more. Their knowledge surrounding looking after the woodland, leaving no trace, and what they can do to enhance their local woodlands will be an inspiration.

We have forest family bags to borrow to encourage the whole family outdoors!