Nature-Based Learning

At Bearfoot Preschool we understand that children learn best through play. Our Preschool uses the woodland and outdoors to inspire and challenge. We believe that true understanding comes from experiencing and sometimes failing at things first hand.

By combining the outdoor environment within the woodland and farm setting, along with skilled practitioners allowing the children to lead and direct their own play, we believe we are helping to lay the foundation for our children to become confident, happy and resilient individuals. 

We take on a child-led planning in the moment approach following the children's own interests through a learning journal.

Play isn’t just important, play isn’t just learning, play is fundamentally how children understand their relationships and the world they live in.

The central people in any child’s life are their parents and carers. At Bearfoot, we work alongside your family and encourage you to be part of your child’s time with us. We believe it’s important that we get to know you and your child so that we can tailor our planning and approach to your child’s individual needs.

 

 

 

 

 

Bearfoot Preschool aims:

 

  • Build a positive mental attitude and independence
  • Develop patience, resilience and determination
  • Foster imagination and initiative
  • Cultivate respect for the natural world
  • Strengthen self awareness / sense of self and develop skills in cooperation and communication
  • Encourage individuality and original thinking
  • Harness children’s innate curiosity and cultivate a passion for learning which will last throughout  their lifetime
  • Learn how to make their own decisions to keep themselves healthy and safe
  • Have fun!

Giving the children the opportunity to be outside for long periods of time means fresh air, exercise and many rich opportunities for play and also provides an open ended, ever changing environment where the children are not restricted by commercial influences.

Outside they have physical and mental space. There are opportunities for natural quiet times when the children can approach their inner selves and enjoy a solitary moment, allowing time for thought and reflection.

Whilst outside the children choose to play with anyone or anything, creating endless opportunities for creativity.  Children learn about the consequences of their actions and set their own challenges rather than having them artificially set by an adult.

Physical and emotional resilience develop and are gently nurtured as the children become more able, with each achievement the child’s confidence, resilience, persistence and endurance grow. As the child begins to feel at home in our wooden lodge and outdoor space they feel a sense of ownership and autonomy which brings with it confidence and the intrinsic motivation to discover and learn. This motivation is not often experienced within the constraints of the indoor, adult controlled environment provided by most nursery or preschool settings, where tasks are set and children are judged by adult standards.