Explore, Learn & Develop at Meadow View Childcare
“There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”
Explore, Learn & Develop
Our days are filled with activities and play led by the children’s innate curiosity, with our caring and encouraging practitioners in close proximity observing and enhancing their learning. This outdoor approach to learning enables us all to have wonderful, natural responses without man-made restrictions.
The Children explore, learn and develop in the outdoors whatever the season. Research shows, that time spent outdoors has a positive effect on children’s health.
Outside in all weather
Rain is brilliant for catching, measuring, mixing and pouring. It adds a new element to the mud kitchen. Puddle splashing is always a favourite but building bridges over puddles adds a whole new learning opportunity. Making boats, floating and sinking are all part of the day. Our outside weather proof shelter provides a space to eat and rest without getting wet. Our indoor learning hubs provide space where we can snuggle and read a story before heading out again!
Considering All Weather Conditions
On very hot days children are reminded and supported to drink plenty, apply sun cream, keep hats on and spend time in the shade. We will provide calm activities in the shade to help us cool down such as paddling pools, yoga, drawing and painting. Experimenting with water painting and mud painting watching it dry and change colour is a brilliant learning experience. Warmer weather and the summer season brings opportunity for growing and planting, natural dyes, foraging in our amazing garden and much more.
Snow Days
Most of our team live local so we hardly ever close for snow. Extra snacks and warm milk are always essential on super chilly days, which we provide. We enjoy creating ice sculptures and art work, painting snow, building snowmen, making trails and following tracks. Snowy days are the best! Open your coat and get blown away! Feel the wind move your body and make you sway. Kite making, running with fabric and ribbons are simply joyous as well as fun around the parachute. Leaf catching in the autumn is one of our favourite past times!
Woodwork
Woodwork provides a unique learning experience for young children. It is rich in so many areas of learning and development and it is an activity which children really enjoy doing, being absorbed for extended periods of time. It encompasses creative thinking, maths skills, scientific investigation, physical development and coordination, developing language and vocabulary, and much more. It is wonderful for building self- esteem and confidence. This is for a combination of reasons; through being empowered to use real tools, by being given responsibility, accomplishing tasks that they initially feel to be challenging, gaining new skills and finally taking pride in their creations.
School-ready
Through the magic of our beautiful outdoor setting, we combine childcare with education allowing children to flourish and grow as individuals. We provide a foundation upon which children can learn whilst nurturing their personal and social development skills getting your child school-ready.
Why are school readiness skills important?
The development of school readiness skills allows practitioners to expand and further develop a child’s skills in the specific areas of social interaction, play, language, emotional development, physical skills, literacy and fine motor skills.
Why should I choose Meadow View?
Meadow View Preschool provides an environment for children to explore, gain a sense of self, play with peers and build self-confidence. Children learn they can accomplish tasks and make decisions without the help of their parents/carers.
Early Years Foundation Stage
Our Magical Curious Nursery is where children’s imaginations are free to run wild. We follow the core Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and incorporate learning in a safe and secure outdoor environment, where free play, fresh air, exposure to the natural world and physical activity are an integral part of learning.
EYFS
Through the EYFS curriculum, Ofsted has set out three core areas and four sub-areas for children to learn and develop in. You can read more about it here.
Traditionally the EYFS is taught inside classrooms but we find the outdoors provides an enriching environment to achieve these learning goals.
Personal,Social & Emotional
Positive sense of self and for others Respect and forming relationships Self-reflection and feelings Being outside encourages lots of play and activities with each other, creating ample opportunities to cooperate, support, share, show sensitivity to others’ needs and take turns.
Communication & Language
Rich language environment Confidence and skills to express Vocabulary, speaking and listening The outdoors provides freedom to speak and a need to be heard. Whether during daily routine rules and instructions or play, children are exposed to a range of vocabulary and answer “how” and “why” questions about their experiences. The ever changing curious environment at Meadow View brings plenty of new vocabulary.
Physical
Active and interactive Coordination, control and movement Healthy habits and self-care In the spacious outdoors at Meadow View children can jump, Climb, balance, dig, build, run and roll safely. Using natural objects like sticks, leaves and mud, children get physically involved. A love for movement and be active develops which is great for future health.
Personal,Social & Emotional
Positive sense of self and for others Respect and forming relationships Self-reflection and feelings Being outside encourages lots of play and activities with each other, creating ample opportunities to cooperate, support, share, show sensitivity to others’ needs and take turns.
Communication & Language
Rich language environment Confidence and skills to express Vocabulary, speaking and listening The outdoors provides freedom to speak and a need to be heard. Whether during daily routine rules and instructions or play, children are exposed to a range of vocabulary and answer “how” and “why” questions about their experiences. The ever changing curious environment at Meadow View brings plenty of new vocabulary.
Physical
Active and interactive Coordination, control and movement Healthy habits and self-care In the spacious outdoors at Meadow View children can jump, Climb, balance, dig, build, run and roll safely. Using natural objects like sticks, leaves and mud, children get physically involved. A love for movement and be active develops which is great for future health.
Personal,Social & Emotional
Positive sense of self and for others Respect and forming relationships Self-reflection and feelings Being outside encourages lots of play and activities with each other, creating ample opportunities to cooperate, support, share, show sensitivity to others’ needs and take turns.
Four sub-areas
Literacy
Linking sounds and letters
Reading and writing
Access to books and poems
Nature walks and treasure trials are great for reading and children love spelling and writing using sticks and the ground. Even though we’re outside we have books and other literacy materials for children to read and engage with. In the colder days we do stories around the campfire and sometimes head to our local library for a visit too.
Maths
Counting
Adding and subtracting
Shapes, spaces and measuring
There are plenty of opportunities outdoors for counting and understanding order and ranges using natural recourses. Gathering is popular and this provides a great way to add, subtract and learn about doubling and halving through the placement of natural elements. We also come across all kinds of shapes and patterns regularly, and have plenty of space to measure weight and distance by getting physical with the natural world.
Understanding the World
Physical world
Learning about community, people and places
Experiencing environment and technology
Children are able to get hands-on with objects, materials and living things including bugs, worms, birds, plants, and much more. Each season brings new weather and wildlife so there is plenty of interaction and understanding taking place continuously. We sometimes use gadgets to see and understand further too, for example bird spotting with binoculars.
Expressive Arts and Creativity
Using a range of materials and media
Sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings
Using art, music, role-play and movement
Nature, animals and creatures spark plenty of ideas for singing songs, making music, dancing and role-playing. Children love to build, create dens, mud kitchens and bug hotels too. The outdoors lights up curiousity and imagine to express limitless thoughts and ideas. When on community visits there are great opportunities for children to try a range of new things too.