Training Courses | In Person | Early Years | Education | Cross-curricular

Early Years Foundations Outdoors

Early Years Foundations Outdoors is for a whole early years setting to train as a team together, developing staff confidence and skills, as well as the spaces and resources used for outdoor learning and play.

Turn your outdoor spaces into vibrant learning environments with our Early Years Foundations Outdoors training. Tailored for early years settings, this practical and engaging course will help your team develop the skills and confidence to deliver quality outdoor play and learning experiences.

Why choose this training?

Outdoor play is a vital part of early childhood development, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and physical and emotional wellbeing. This training is perfect for early years settings looking to:

Introduce outdoor learning and play for the first time
Develop a shared vision and values for outdoor education
Enhance staff confidence and expertise in using outdoor spaces effectively
Build a whole-team approach to outdoor learning and play, tapping into staff ideas and addressing common obstacles

What to expect

This full-day, in-person training is designed to meet your setting’s specific needs. Through hands-on experiences and team collaboration, your staff will explore how to use your outdoor spaces, overcome challenges, and develop cost-effective activities that support child development.

Key themes include:

Building a shared vision for outdoor play: How to align your team’s goals and utilise outdoor learning spaces
Supporting staff confidence and skills: Practical strategies to empower staff to lead outdoor play with ease
Curriculum-linked play ideas: Simple, engaging activities that support early years development
Addressing barriers: Strategies for overcoming challenges like weather, safety, and staff confidence

Throughout the training, your team will engage in reflective discussions, practical activities, and forward planning to ensure outdoor learning becomes a meaningful and regular part of your practice.

Course benefits

By the end of the training, your setting will:

Develop a shared understanding of outdoor play and learning among your team
Increase staff confidence in using outdoor spaces for effective early years learning
Discover fun, practical activities that are easy to implement and adapt for different outdoor settings
Address concerns and challenges, helping your team overcome common barriers to outdoor play

Flexible delivery options

The full Early Years Foundations Outdoors course can be delivered in a way that works for your setting. The prices below are for a group of up to 20 staff with one trainer:

One full day: £655 + VAT
Two half days: £960 + VAT (£480 + VAT per session)
Three twilight sessions: £1,140 + VAT (£380 + VAT per session)

We can also run shorter versions of the training across one half day session or one or two twilight sessions.

For larger groups, additional trainers can be provided at an additional cost. This training can also be combined with other courses as part of a Whole School Approach programme.