Outdoor Learning
All children, of all ages have direct access to outdoor areas, at all times in all weathers, except when conditions are unsafe. We encourage children to move in and out as they wish extending their activities in the outdoor classroom.
The children can work under cover or out in the large garden, ensuring they move as much as they need to meet their physical, emotional and intellectual needs. They have endless opportunities exploring and interacting with a wide range of habitats and natural spaces. They can access their “children’s beach”, the children’s growing area, the mud kitchen, slides, tunnels, slopes and water play area.
With support from the staff the children grow seasonal fruits and vegetables to use in our freshly prepared lunches and flowers for vases and arrangements in the classroom. They scrump for apples and pears in the autumn in their child friendly orchard and collect eggs every day from the chickens they have hatched themselves.
Being on a working farm they help care of chickens and pigs; they can even ride of tractors and the combine during harvest. Gaining real life experiences of where their food comes from. From this they learn empathy and communication skills
We provide suitable clothing, sunhats and suncream in the summer and warm, waterproof clothes in the winter.
Forest School
At Westwood Montessori we offer forest school sessions at ‘West Wood” an SSI wood behind the nursery. The children are offered the opportunity to visit forest school during the week, if they so wish. We link our forest school sessions to enhance children’s learning experiences.
Children can experience the awe and wonder that nature offers us in a real woodland environment supported by qualified forest school leaders. With each visit to the forest school children will learn new skills linked to survival of man and caring for the natural environment
Children benefit from exploring in natures playground, reinforcing the knowledge they learn in the classroom. This specialised learning approach enables children to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences. You will soon notice your child’s increasing confidence and willingness to explore new challenges.
More information here.