Outdoor Learning Environment

The nursery has a secure garden with 9 fully functional camera's recording outdoor activities at all times.  The priority is to maintain a safe learning environment outdoors.

 

The Nursery Pond

Within this secured garden there is a secure pond with goldfish, nets, binoculars, observation trays and a child friendly thermometer to mention a few.  The children enjoy exploring the pond life and take serious their responsibility to measure the temperature and feed the fish.  The water fall, fountain and wind chimes provide a calm sensory environment for younger children.  The children negotiate the bridge encouraging physical development, there is also discovery learning with children developing a knowledge and understanding of the world.

 

 

 The Play House

The 'double decker' play house with its role play kitchen and table is a keen favourite for many children.  We have witnessed many tea times with teddy as well as good communication and literacy skills.  The children really enjoy pretending to be in their house, just the right size for them but too small for adults permitted in by invitation only!  The children are really creative in this environment.

 

 

 Climbing Frames - Tower and Castle

There are 3 climbing frames with slides to encourage physical development.  The Tower and Castle at the front has been turned into a 'fortress' by the older children, a quiet work environment for children wanting their own space outdoors and the slide is often used for quick escapes from the tower.  The mid range climbing frame and bridge is equally popular with the fireman pole providing the quick escape when the slide is 'busy'.

 

 

 The Pet Corner

The nursery has two guinea pigs - bubbles and squeak chosen by two of the Turtle room children (accompanied by their key carer Leighann) from Pets at Home.  There is a care rota for all the rooms so the children and staff can take responsibility for feeding, cleaning and cuddling the guinea pigs - they certainly do not need much encouragement.  Bubbles and squeak are boarders every weekend at one of the children's homes giving the parents the opportunity to have a pet for a very short time only with food and board fully provided by the nursery.  This area really does support Personal, Social and Emotional Development a sanctuary for new children settling into the nursery environment.

 

 

 The Builders Yard 

Some of the best learning environments are inexpensive.  The builders yard with its bricks, mud pit, tools for digging, hard hat, bright yellow jacket, crates and wood off cuts is a popular play environment.  The children take on roles encouraging Communication, Language and Literacy, there is also great interaction and the development of social skills. 

 

 The Nursery 'Beach'

The children describe the 3.6 meters by 3.6 meters sand pit as the beach.  It is a very popular zone for the younger children who really do enjoy the sensory experience of playing with sand and making creative sand castles.  Older children search for numbered bean bags to encourage Problem Solving and Mathematical development.  They enjoy measuring, dealing with quantities, large and small - it really is a fantastic learning environment which really appeals to the children.

 

 

 The Play Track

All children really enjoy playing with the bikes, wagons, push along trains and push chairs, it is therefore logical that they have a soft play track to encourage safe play on a child friendly surface.  As usual there had to be an educational purpose to this play therefore the track is in a figure 8 with zebra crossings and traffic lights to develop road awareness.

 

 

The garden presents many opportunities to explore water play on the cascade noting the effects of slopes, there are also the outdoor musical instruments.  There really are endless opportunities to have fun and learn - learning is never boring at Fawley Nursery.