Planning for Outdoor Learning: A Practical Guide for the Early Years

When the environment is right, children flourish. Just as ready-made meals don’t create great chefs, ready-made environments don’t nurture independent thinkers.

Planning is key to creating rich outdoor learning experiences, where children, educators and the environment can work together. This book supports practitioners working with children aged two to six (including Reception and Year 1) develop a flexible, observation-led approach to planning that places children at the heart of the process.

Rather than a rigid, one-size-fits-all process, planning should be a dynamic, responsive practice that evolves with the needs of the children and setting. Through practical examples, this book demonstrates how well-planned outdoor spaces support children’s independence and problem-solving skills. Chapters include:

• The planning cycle - making planning accessible and achievable
• Guiding principles for effective outdoor learning
• Creating intentional environments that support children’s curiosity and development
• Observation, assessment and documentation made manageable
• Case studies from real settings and their outdoor planning journeys

Features:

• Hundreds of full-colour photographs
• Reflective tasks and activities for staff development
• Practical tools for creating adaptable, child-centred plans

This book empowers early years practitioners to design outdoor learning experiences that truly meet children’s needs. By focusing on the ’why’ and ’how’ of planning, it ensures that day-to-day practice is guided by meaningful aims and objectives - allowing educators to spend less time on paperwork and more time engaging with the children.

Helen Bilton is Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play at the University of Reading. An internationally recognised expert in early years outdoor education, she has authored numerous research-led papers and textbooks, combining practice with theory to support both researchers and practitioners.