Outdoor Learning in the Early Years

Now in its third edition, Outdoor Learning in the Early Years is the complete guide to creating effective outdoor environments for young children’s learning. Comprehensively revised and updated throughout, this book covers every aspect of working outdoors in the early years and fully explains the importance of outdoor play to children’s development.

Key topics covered include:

• how to manage and set up the outdoor area
• what children gain from being outside
• how to allow children to take managed risks
• making sense of work and play
• how outdoor provision helps children become self regulatory
• providing for both boys and girls in the outdoor environment
• research supporting the outdoor approach.

A book for practitioners at every level of their career; each chapter includes discussions and questions for continuing development that can easily be incorporated into INSET as well as training within further or higher education.

Outdoor Learning in the Early Years contains a multitude of ideas and activities for working outdoors in the early years and provides a framework within which professionals can analyse and develop their outdoor provision and environment. This book is essential reading for all EYFS and Key Stage 1 practitioners, and for trainee teachers, their tutors, and mentors.

Helen Bilton is the Director of the PGCE Primary and Early Years Programme at the University of Reading where she lectures in Early Years Education.