Key Stage 1 Science Curriculum and Outdoor Education

Hand in Hand they sit together.

Let's take a look at what our Early Years settings are preparing children for at KS1.

"The principal focus of science teaching in key stage 1 is to enable pupils to experience and observe phenomena, looking more closely at the natural and humanly constructed world around them."  

"They should be encouraged to be curious and ask questions about what they notice. They should be helped to develop their understanding of scientific ideas by using different types of scientific enquiry to answer their own questions, including observing changes over a period of time, noticing patterns, grouping and classifying things, carrying out simple comparative tests, and finding things out using secondary sources of information. Most of the learning about science should be done through the use of first-hand practical experiences."

Early Years outdoor education is an excellent vessel in preparing children for their next stage of learning (KS1).  I don't recall such a time when the National Curriculum criteria and outdoor provision were this symbiotic. It is a welcome declaration from Ofsted that improving teaching and learning involves the great outdoors.

There appears to be a surge of Early Years and Primary outdoor provision and not without good reason; children learn better when they are free from the confines of a room.  I don't stand against classrooms indeed I  have seen and worked in some epic classrooms!  

However outdoors is the place to be where ever and whenever possible.

Getting children school ready is an important element of Early Years. Parents who can place their children in outdoor early learning environments are not only allowing 
their child myriads of physical benefits they are giving their child a heads up 
on the KS1 curriculum.   

Food for thought.