The Orchard Day Nursery, Yattendon, Berkshire

Rural Day Nursery 
specialising in Outdoor 
Play and Learning 
for 1-5 year olds 
Outdoor Play & Learning Nursery Garden Benefits of Outdoor Learning Nursery Fees Nursery Staff How to Find Us Home

Benefits of      
Outdoor Learning

Recent studies have
highlighted some benefits of
outdoor learning for young children:
  • higher levels of conversational language.
  • greater independence.
  • improved health and sleeping patterns.
  • greater physical competence and agility.
  • improved time focus on activities and more concentration.
  • a greater understanding of nature and the environment.
  • improved social skills, involvement and initiative.

Most of the outdoor
activities are 'hands-on' and
take place in fields, woods
and the Nursery garden.
There are opportunities
to look at farming
activities throughout the
year such as feeding the
lambs, harvesting,
ploughing and sheep shearing.
We aim to be outside each
morning for about two and a
half-hours with the older
children and about half an
hour for the younger ones.
We would encourage the
older children who attend
the outdoor sessions to
also attend the afternoon
sessions at the Nursery. There, we
develop further what we have learnt and experienced from the morning and continuing to link our experiences to the Foundation Stage Curriculum. We make pictures and art work from things we have collected, talking about our experiences and expanding on what has been learnt.