Aug 10, 2026
Choosing a nursery is about more than finding somewhere safe and caring. As a parent, you want to know your child will feel happy, understood and supported as they grow.
Outdoor learning in the early years gives children space to move, explore, talk, problem-solve and build confidence through real experiences. In a well-planned outdoor nursery or Forest School setting, the outdoors isn’t separate from learning. It’s often where some of the most meaningful learning happens.
The benefits go far beyond fresh air and physical play. Learning outdoors can support confidence, independence, resilience, communication, social skills, physical development, wellbeing and curiosity. It gives children the chance to learn through movement, discovery and hands-on experiences, all in ways that feel natural and age-appropriate.
To adults, outdoor learning can sometimes look like ‘just play’. But if you’ve ever watched a child proudly carry a leaf like treasure, negotiate over who gets the ‘big stick’, or explain exactly why a puddle needs further investigation, you’ll know there’s a lot going on.
When children climb, build, dig, talk, imagine, count, compare and explore outdoors, they’re developing skills that support their learning across the Early Years Foundation Stage.
The Early Years Foundation Stage, or EYFS, sets the standards for learning, development, health and care for children from birth to five years old. Outdoor learning can support all seven areas of the EYFS through active, hands-on experiences.
Children are not simply spending time outside. They’re communicating, negotiating, moving, counting, observing, imagining, creating and learning about the world around them. A child creating a trail with leaves and stones, for example, may be developing early maths, communication, creativity, physical coordination and problem-solving, all within one activity.
Outdoor learning can also include familiar early years activities, such as stories, songs, mark-making, counting, music, group time and early language activities. These moments are often brought to life through movement, nature and real-world exploration.
At The Old Station Nursery, we’re passionate advocates of outdoor learning. Here are some of our favourite benefits for children.
Benefit 1: confidence and resilience
Outdoor learning gives children regular opportunities to try, practice, adapt and try again.
Small everyday challenges, such as balancing on stepping stones, climbing safely, filling and carrying watering cans or moving across uneven ground, help children build confidence in their own abilities. They learn what their bodies can do, how to make decisions and how to keep going when something feels tricky.
This doesn’t mean encouraging unsafe risk. Outdoor play and learning should be carefully supervised by trained practitioners, with age-appropriate opportunities for children to assess challenges, follow guidance and develop confidence safely.
Over time, children begin to understand that it’s okay if something doesn’t work the first time. They can try a different way, ask for help or learn from watching others.
Benefit 2: physical development
Outdoor environments naturally encourage children to move in varied and meaningful ways.
Running, climbing, balancing, digging, lifting, crawling, stretching, jumping and carrying all support physical development. These movements help children build gross motor skills, coordination, strength, balance and body awareness.
Outdoor play can also support fine motor skills. Children might pick up small natural objects, thread leaves, plant seeds, use sticks for mark-making or pour water between different containers. These small, careful movements help children practice control and coordination. As children become more confident in their bodies, they often become more willing to explore, join in and try something new.
Benefit 3: mental health and wellbeing
Time outdoors can help many children feel calmer, more settled and more connected to the world around them.
Outdoor spaces offer room to move, breathe and regulate emotions. There’s space for energetic play, but also quieter moments, such as listening to birds, watching clouds move, watering plants or noticing how the garden changes through the seasons.
Regular outdoor routines can support emotional wellbeing by giving children familiar experiences they can return to. Some children take to outdoor learning straight away. Others need time, reassurance or small adjustments, especially if they’re sensitive to weather, noise, textures or changes in routine.
A thoughtful nursery will support children gently, so outdoor learning feels positive rather than overwhelming.
Benefit 4: language and communication
Outdoor learning creates rich opportunities for conversation.
Children describe what they can see, hear, feel and smell. They ask questions, negotiate roles, invent games, tell stories and explain their ideas. They might talk about the crunch of leaves, the shape of a shadow, the sound of rain on a shelter or the way a snail moves across a path.
These experiences help children build vocabulary in a meaningful context. Outdoor play also encourages communication between children. A group creating a pretend shop with leaves, stones and seed pods may need to decide what everything is worth, who is serving and how customers should take turns. These conversations support listening, turn-taking, confidence and expressive language.
Benefit 5: social skills and teamwork
Outdoor spaces naturally encourage cooperative play.
Children might work together to look after plants, build an obstacle trail, create a role-play campsite, search for minibeasts or invent a shared game. These moments help children practice turn-taking, empathy, listening, patience and collaboration.
Outdoor learning also gives children opportunities to manage small disagreements. They may need to decide who uses a magnifying glass first, how to share space at the water tray or what rules their game should have. With adult support, these situations help children learn how to express themselves, understand others and find solutions.
The outdoors is naturally full of questions.
Benefit 6: curiosity, thinking and problem-solving
Why is one part of the garden sunny and another in shade? Where do insects go when it rains? Which container holds the most water? How can we make a tower of stones stand up?
These everyday questions support curiosity, problem-solving and early critical thinking. Children observe, compare, test ideas and make connections. They begin to understand cause and effect through real experiences.
Outdoor learning can also support early maths and literacy. Children might count petals, compare the weight of objects, spot patterns in leaves, follow a picture trail, make marks with chalk or listen to stories under trees. These activities feel playful, but they build important foundations for later learning.
Benefit 7: school readiness
Outdoor learning can support school readiness by helping children become more independent, confident and able to manage themselves.
School readiness isn’t only about recognising letters or numbers. It’s also about being able to communicate needs, follow routines, build relationships, manage emotions, listen to others, try new things and cope with change.
Outdoor routines can support practical independence too. Children practice putting on coats and wellies, managing waterproofs, looking after belongings, making choices and solving small problems with adult support.
They also learn to follow instructions, take turns, work with others and move between different parts of the day.
There’s no single perfect amount of outdoor time for every child. What matters most is that outdoor learning is regular, purposeful and well supported.
In some nurseries, children may spend short periods outside each day. In outdoor nurseries or Forest School settings, children may spend much of the day outdoors, with routines, clothing, activities and safety procedures designed around the weather and children’s needs.
Good outdoor provision is practical as well as inspiring. This includes suitable clothing, waterproofs and wellies in wet weather, shade and sun protection in warmer weather, careful supervision, risk assessments and flexibility for children who need extra support.
Outdoor learning can look different from day to day, depending on the children, the weather, the season and the setting.
A typical day might begin with a morning circle outdoors, where children greet each other, talk about the weather and share what they’ve noticed. From there, they may move into child-led exploration, choosing from activities such as planting, water play, bug spotting, den building, balancing challenges, mark-making, storytelling, collecting natural objects or creating seasonal artwork.
Practitioners support learning by asking thoughtful questions, introducing new vocabulary and helping children reflect on what they’re doing.
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“Outdoor learning gives children the freedom to explore, take appropriate risks and learn through real experiences. It helps build confidence, resilience and independence, while also supporting physical development, communication and curiosity about the world around them. At Henley, we see every day how being outdoors can bring learning to life in a way that feels exciting and meaningful for children.”
Jo Head, Nursery Manager at The Old Station Nursery Henley
Outdoor learning can also include quieter moments. Children may rest, listen to a story under the trees, talk about how they’re feeling or notice seasonal changes around them.
The benefits of outdoor learning in early years go far beyond fresh air and physical play.
When thoughtfully planned and supported by skilled practitioners, outdoor learning can support children’s bodies, minds, emotions, relationships, communication and curiosity. Whether children are asking questions, testing ideas, creating games with friends or simply enjoying the freedom to move, they’re developing skills that help them feel more confident, capable and ready for the next stage of their journey.
To learn more about outdoor learning and Forest School experiences, read our guide to what Forest School means in the early years.