Outdoor Learning in Reception at Dean Field School
Our EYFS Ethos at Dean Field School
At Dean Field School, we are deeply passionate about providing a high-quality Early Years Foundation Stage experience. We believe that the EYFS lays the foundations for every child’s future success, shaping not only what they learn but how they learn. Our ethos is rooted in warmth, inclusivity and aspiration, ensuring that every child feels valued, supported and inspired every day.
We strive to create an environment where children can thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Guided by our motto, ‘Learning Without Limits’, we nurture confident, independent learners who are curious about the world and eager to explore it. Our EYFS curriculum is carefully designed to ensure clear progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary, building learning step by step from children’s starting points. Our dedicated team is committed to giving every child the best possible start, embedding the principles of the Development Matters guidance across all aspects of our provision to support sustained progress and long-term success.
Nursery and Reception share the same outdoor learning environment; however, the skills, knowledge and expectations differ to reflect children’s stages of development. In Nursery, outdoor learning focuses on exploration, sensory play, developing confidence and building early physical, communication and mathematical skills through active play. In Reception, children use the same space with increasing independence and purpose, applying their learning to more structured challenges, collaboration and early maths and literacy investigations. This shared environment ensures continuity while clearly supporting progression across the EYFS.
Outdoor Learning
Our open-access outdoor environment is a key part of our EYFS provision and reflects our commitment to offering enriching, meaningful experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom. The outdoor area is carefully planned to support the Development Matters (2021) curriculum across all seven areas of learning ensuring that children are challenged, inspired and supported through purposeful play.
Water Exploration
Children develop early scientific and mathematical understanding through hands-on water play. Activities such as pouring, filling, measuring and observing changes link closely to the Understanding the World and Mathematics areas of Development Matters encouraging curiosity and early problem-solving skills.
Outdoor Literacy at Dean Field
Literacy experiences are embedded throughout our outdoor area. Story corners, mark-making spaces, and opportunities for imaginative play support the Communication and Language and Literacy statements of Development Matters, helping children strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and early writing in meaningful contexts.
Large-Scale Construction and Collaboration
Using large construction materials such as crates, blocks, and planks, children collaborate, negotiate and plan together. These experiences support Personal, Social and Emotional Development as well as Physical Development. Children strengthen gross motor skills and building the teamwork behaviours which are highlighted in Development Matters.
Creative Performance Opportunities
Our outdoor performance space provides opportunities for role-play, music, dance and storytelling. These activities enhance confidence, communication and expressive skills directly supporting the Expressive Arts and Design area of Development Matters.
Digging and Natural Discovery
The digging zone enables children to explore soil, textures, and natural changes, fostering early scientific thinking. These experiences support the Understanding the World curriculum and help children develop the physical coordination emphasised in Physical Development.
Practical Mathematics Outdoors
Counting natural objects, creating patterns, comparing sizes and measuring water all help children build strong early number skills. These real-life maths opportunities align with the expectations set out in the Mathematics section of Development Matters, promoting reasoning and problem-solving.
Small World Imagination
Small world play encourages children to invent stories, explore roles and develop language. This links to Communication and Language, Expressive Arts and Design and PSED supporting creativity and social interaction in line with Development Matters guidance.
Bikes, Movement, and Gross Motor Development
Daily access to bikes, scooters, climbing structures and open movement spaces supports the development of balance, strength and coordination. These experiences reflect the Gross Motor expectations in Development Matters and help children build physical confidence.
Encouraging Safe, Supported Risk-Taking
We value the importance of purposeful, supervised risk-taking as part of early childhood development. Activities such as climbing, building, balancing and exploring uneven surfaces help children develop independence, resilience and self-regulation. These are core elements of the Managing Self and Building Relationships statements in Development Matters.