19/04/2026
“The children are just… different out here.”
That’s what a teaching assistant said to me recently after an outdoor learning day with her high-need Reception class.
👉 Calmer
👉 More engaged
👉 Actually wanting to learn
And yet…
Many schools treat outdoor learning like a special occasion.
A one-off day.
Something we squeeze in when we have time.
Let me gently challenge this…
If we know children regulate better, focus more, and feel more connected outside…
Why isn’t it part of our everyday rhythm?
Because here’s the reassurance you might need to hear:
You don’t need to plan elaborate outdoor activities.
You don’t need a full forest school set-up.
You don’t need more on your already full plate.
Nature already gives you everything you need.
It’s not about doing more…
It’s about using what’s already there, differently.
✨ This is what it can look like:
A child who won’t touch pastels indoors…
suddenly creating the most beautiful marks when sat amongst bluebells.
Water + mirrors + petals…
turning into light, reflection, curiosity, and awe.
Learning that feels effortless.
Because it’s real. Sensory. Alive.
And this is exactly what we explore inside my nature study approach—
how to let the seasons, the environment, and simple natural provocations do the teaching for you.
Not as a one-off.
But as part of your everyday way of being.
🌿 Because when we step back…
nature steps in.
Discover more at www.hyggintheearlyyears.co.uk
