OUR GARDEN
Our Garden
Our Outdoor Space
Over the years there has been a cultural shift in society, reducing access to outdoor play for many children. The Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS 2017) places a strong emphasis on the importance and value of daily outdoor experiences on children’s learning and development.
Outdoor learning encompasses all that children do, see, hear or feel in their outdoor space. This includes the experiences that practitioners create and plan for, the spontaneous activities that children initiate, and the naturally occurring cyclical opportunities linked to the seasons, weather and nature (EYFS 2017)
Our unique roof top garden has magnificent views over Chatham Maritime Marina, children see the boats in the marina, the swans gliding up the basins and the busy shops and people on the piers. Our garden is equipped with handmade wooden furniture upon a sprung floor with artificial grass. The garden is secure, yet children can see far and wide, we provide the same areas of learning that are inside the rooms and supportive and knowledgeable staff ensure that children are happy, engaged and learning by planning for their next steps and interests outside as well as inside. Children spend a lot of time outside and during the hottest parts of the day we go out even earlier and stay out later to maximize time spent outdoors whilst avoiding the hotter part of the day. Not all children have access to gardens at home depending on whether they live in apartments or houses, so it is really important to extend their outdoor learning at nursery.
Gallery
