Outside Play & Outdoor Curriculum

Module 1

Outside as intentional curriculum

~7 min

Learning purpose: outside offers learning experiences no indoor room can — space, weather, natural materials, risk. But only if we plan for it.

JLK practice standard: outside time is planned, not filler. Every session has a purpose we could articulate to a parent or an inspector.

🌱 The 7 EYFS areas — all available outside

Communication and language: sound walks, naming what's seen, story circles under a tree.
PSED: negotiation over shared resources, courage on the climbing frame, calming near nature.
Physical development: running, climbing, balancing, throwing, digging, jumping.
Literacy: mark-making with sticks in mud, chalk on paving, storytelling under a canopy.
Mathematics: counting steps, comparing leaf sizes, capacity with water play, patterns with natural materials.
Understanding the world: weather, seasons, life cycles, minibeasts, plant growth, gravity, water flow.
Expressive arts and design: nature collages, mud kitchens, singing outdoors, dance with ribbons in wind.

💭 Reflection prompt: Think of your last 3 outdoor sessions. Could you name the learning intention for each? If not, that's what changes this week.

I plan outside sessions with a specific learning intention
I know all 7 EYFS areas can be delivered outside
I could articulate the learning purpose of any outdoor session to a parent

Module 2

Risk-benefit — supporting brave learning

~8 min

Learning purpose: risk-averse outdoor play produces risk-averse children who can't judge safety themselves. Risk-benefit thinking (not risk assessment alone) is the difference.

⚖️ The JLK risk-benefit approach

Risk assessment alone asks: what could go wrong?

Risk-BENEFIT thinking also asks: what learning would be lost if we removed this risk?

Both matter. A jump off a low log = tiny bruise risk / big physical confidence gain. Remove the log = safer today, weaker child tomorrow.

💚 What safe outdoor risk looks like at JLK

Climbing frames age-appropriate + safety mat / grass beneath.
Using real tools (child-safe knives, wooden mallets, small trowels) with supervision.
Balancing on logs, low walls, wobble planks.
Jumping from low heights.
Handling twigs, stones, pinecones — supervised but not banned.

❌ Not-negotiable safety

Adult in line of sight of every child, always.
Nothing in mouths that could choke — very small stones, berries, coins.
Sunscreen + hats in sun; layered warmth + coats in cold.
Water play with vigilance — even a small container is a drowning risk for a baby.
Every outdoor session logged (headcount before/after, any incidents).

I use risk-BENEFIT thinking — not just what could go wrong, but what learning would be lost
I let children take age-appropriate risks under supervision
I always keep line of sight of every child outside

Module 3

Weather · natural materials · sample sessions

~10 min

Learning purpose: the excuse "the weather's bad" costs children hours of outdoor learning a year. JLK goes out in almost any weather with the right prep.

🌦 The JLK weather approach

"There's no bad weather, only bad clothing." Waterproofs, wellies, warm layers, spare socks always ready. Every weather offers different learning.

Rain: puddle splashing, water flow, umbrella play, drenched-earth smell.
Cold + frost: ice patterns on leaves, breath clouds, warm-drink comfort inside after.
Wind: ribbons, scarves, kites, listening to trees.
Hot: shade seeking, water tray, watering plants, sunscreen ritual as learning about care.
Only avoid: extreme heat with UV, severe storms, unsafe ground (ice on paving), extreme cold below JLK threshold.

🍃 Natural materials — 8 outdoor loose parts

Natural materials add texture, colour, story:

Sticks (short, medium) · logs (for sitting/balancing) · pinecones · large stones (baby-safe size) · leaves (seasonal) · shells · seed pods · bark pieces.

🌱 6 tested outdoor session ideas

1 · Muddy kitchen. Pans, spoons, water, mud, herbs. Complete meal-making role play.

2 · Bug hotel building. Sticks, dry leaves, bark — children build homes for minibeasts.

3 · Weather walk. Anywhere in the garden — stop, name what you feel and see. 10 minutes.

4 · Water flow / pipes. Guttering, jugs, plastic pipes on a slope. Where does water go?

5 · Storytelling under a tree. Take a book outside. Read it. Then children retell.

6 · Nature paintbrushes. Tie leaves, feathers, grass to sticks — paint with them.

I take children outside in most weather (except JLK-defined extremes)
I use natural loose parts as part of outdoor provision
I have at least 3 outdoor sessions I could lead this week

Knowledge check

End-of-course quiz · 5 questions

Pass 80%

Need 4 out of 5 to pass.