There is sheer joy as children move freely in the outdoor area at Rowland Hill Nursery School in Haringey, north London. Children are running around, climbing trees or simply sitting and contemplating in the sunshine.
Executive head teacher Sian McDermott attributes this ‘joy’ to their curriculum, which is inspired by nature and provides plenty of opportunities for children to learn outdoors through all their senses. Staff actively recognise the importance of outdoor learning for fostering a deeper understanding of the natural world and supporting children's health and emotional wellbeing.
Seven years ago, Rowland Hill achieved Natural Thinkers status and continues to follow the programme that supports practitioners to connect children to nature. ‘A lot of the children who live in our local community come from quite cramped accommodation, some don't have window boxes, never mind a balcony or a garden,’ says McDermott. ‘So actually helping them to engage in the natural world through their everyday learning experiences is really important for us. Fortunately, we have a large, beautiful garden, so we want to make the best use of it.’
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