The value of Outside Play
At Molesey Day Nursery, we recognise the immense value of outdoor learning and believe that indoor and outdoor environments are equally important in supporting children’s development. We provide opportunities for children to play and learn outdoors every day, both in the morning and afternoon, allowing them to benefit from experiences that cannot always be replicated indoors.
Our outdoor spaces include our own outdoor classroom and Forest School environment, as well as access to local parks. We are passionate about reconnecting children with nature and encouraging a naturally healthy lifestyle that builds resilience, confidence, independence, curiosity, and self-motivation. Through outdoor play and exploration, children develop a lifelong love of learning while building essential skills for a happy and successful future.
Learning Through Outdoor Experiences
Our outdoor activities are carefully planned to encourage exploration, creativity, problem-solving, and physical development. Experiences may include:
Exploring the natural world and weather, such as drawing shadows, investigating puddles, and observing seasonal changes.
Messy and sensory experiences using materials such as clay, sand, mud, compost, and natural resources.
Creating habitats and encouraging minibeasts through areas with rocks, stones, logs, and other natural materials.
Exploring water play in new ways, such as using guttering and construction materials.
Large-scale construction using resources such as cardboard boxes, logs, and loose parts.
Developing outdoor role play, including picnics, garages, dens, and imaginative games.
Growing herbs, flowers, fruit, and vegetables.
Developing physical skills through climbing, balancing, and using equipment to build coordination and confidence.
Team games that encourage cooperation, communication, turn-taking, and friendships.
Taking indoor experiences outdoors, such as enjoying books and quiet activities outside.
Forest School
Forest School provides children with a unique opportunity to explore and understand the world around them through positive outdoor experiences. Children use all their senses to investigate nature, discover new things, and share exciting experiences with their friends, creating memories that last.
Through Forest School, children develop confidence in managing challenges and taking appropriate risks. They learn to solve problems independently, communicate with others, develop creativity, and make decisions — all while having fun and enjoying the freedom of the natural environment.
Children particularly enjoy designing and building their own dens and shelters using camouflage fabrics, tarpaulins, pegs, twigs, and logs. They may take part in activities such as pond dipping, whittling with vegetable peelers, bug hunting, searching for footprints, making traps, bark rubbing, hide and seek, observing wildlife, monitoring the weather, and recording seasonal changes.
Children also enjoy exploring streams and rivers in the park, creating artwork from natural materials, and making unique creations such as mobiles from objects they have discovered outdoors. The benefits of outdoor learning are endless, providing children with opportunities to grow, explore, and develop in a truly inspiring environment.
Outdoor Play in All Weather
At Molesey Day Nursery, we believe that children benefit from being outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions. Rain and colder temperatures should not prevent children from enjoying outdoor experiences. The most important factors are that children remain comfortable, warm, dry, and able to enjoy their play.
Our woodland areas provide natural shelter, and we also use large lightweight tarpaulins to create additional protection from wind and rain when needed. With appropriate outdoor clothing, children are able to enjoy fresh air and active play throughout the year.
Many nurseries and schools in Scandinavia embrace outdoor learning in challenging climates, and we believe children here can enjoy the same benefits with the right preparation and equipment.
Clothing and Protection
Staff regularly monitor children to ensure they are comfortable and appropriately dressed, checking that they are neither too cold nor too warm.
During colder weather, children may have cooler hands or faces while playing outside, but as long as they are warm overall, this is not considered harmful to their health. Children are encouraged to wear suitable clothing, including coats and layers, but if they become warm during active play, they can remove layers as needed.
For Forest School sessions, we may provide specialist waterproof clothing sets from Sweden. These include a waterproof and windproof jacket and dungaree trousers designed to keep children protected while allowing them to move freely and comfortably. Their bright colours also ensure children remain highly visible. Our adult-to-child ratios are maintained at all times, with at least one adult for every four children during Forest School activities.
During warmer weather, children will have access to sun cream, appropriate light clothing, and drinks throughout the day.
What Will My Child Need to Bring?
Please provide:
A pair of named wellington boots to be kept at nursery.
Warm socks for colder days.
Woollen gloves and hats when appropriate.
What If My Child Is Unwell?
We understand that some parents may have concerns about children going outside when they have symptoms such as a runny nose or mild cough. We have sought advice from healthcare professionals, including local medical professionals, health visitors, community nursery staff, and childcare support teams, and our outdoor practice is supported.
The general advice is that children should continue to enjoy outdoor play unless they have a temperature or are clearly unwell. Fresh air and exercise are beneficial for children’s health and wellbeing, and children with minor coughs or colds can often benefit from time outdoors.
However, please do not bring your child to nursery if they are unable to participate in normal activities. Due to staffing ratios, we are unable to provide individual care for children who need to remain indoors while other children are taking part in outdoor activities.
We hope this reassures you about the importance we place on outdoor learning and play. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to a member of our team — we are always happy to help.