Where Outdoor Learning Happens Every Day
At Footsteps Nurseries, play is far more than a source of fun. It is the foundation of how children learn, grow and understand the world around them. Our mission is to nurture children, families and staff thoughtfully and professionally, and play is the most natural way this mission comes to life every single day.
Across our nurseries in Chingford, Leytonstone and Walthamstow, we create joyful, supportive environments where children feel secure enough to explore, experiment and express themselves. Play allows them to learn at their own pace, guided by skilled practitioners who know when to step in, when to step back and how to extend learning in meaningful ways.
The Benefits of Outdoor Learning
Physical health and strength
Outside, children naturally move more. They climb, balance, dig, run and explore using their whole bodies. This active play strengthens muscles, coordination and core stability, building the foundation for writing, self-care and physical confidence.
Research supports what we see every day. Multiple studies show that regular outdoor play improves children’s fitness and reduces obesity risk. A UK research synthesis found a clear inverse relationship between time spent outdoors and BMI, meaning children who play outside more often are statistically less likely to develop overweight or obesity. Outdoor movement is not just fun; it is a powerful investment in lifelong health.
Attention, behaviour and learning
The outdoors helps children reset their minds in a way indoor spaces cannot. Studies comparing indoor and outdoor play before lessons found that children showed better attention, stronger self-control and fewer off-task behaviours after outdoor time. One early years study even found children could stay focused on a single activity up to 141 per cent longer outdoors, and one child’s story-time comprehension scores were 140 per cent higher outside than inside.
This matches our experience at Footsteps: when children return indoors after active outdoor play, they are calmer, more settled and ready to learn.
Mental wellbeing and happiness
Nature has a powerful effect on children’s emotional health. A large review of 35 studies on nature and mental wellbeing found that over half of the results showed significant positive effects on attention, resilience, stress levels and overall mental health. Another study using tracking data reported that children who spent about 60 minutes a day in nature had around a 50 per cent lower risk of mental health difficulties, with even greater benefits for children from low-income households.
Outdoors, we see this every day. Children relax, regulate their emotions more easily and find space to breathe, observe and wonder.
Curiosity and problem solving
The outdoors naturally invites experimentation. Children notice changes in weather, observe wildlife, explore textures, build dens, test ideas and solve real-world problems. Whether they are moving water through a tube, constructing a bridge from planks or working out how to climb a challenging part of the frame, they are strengthening reasoning, prediction and perseverance.
Social and emotional development
Outdoor play often involves teamwork. Children share tools, negotiate roles, support one another through physical challenges and collaborate on imaginative games. Evidence from a longitudinal study of more than 4,900 children in Australia found that access to green space in early childhood was linked to better mental health, greater enjoyment of physical activity and improved quality of life in adolescence, partly due to stronger prosocial behaviour.
Other research confirms that nature and outdoor play support resilience, emotional regulation and cooperation, with measurable gains in peer relationships compared with children who play mostly indoors. We see these benefits reflected across our Footsteps settings every day.
Learning Through All Weather
We treat weather as an opportunity, not a barrier.
Rain
Creates puddles, water flow, splashes and sensory learning.
Wind
Inspires imaginative play as children watch leaves dance and bubbles travel.
Cold
Builds resilience and independence as children learn to dress warmly and stay active.
Sunshine
Encourages calm outdoor reading, gardening and nature exploration.
With the right clothing and thoughtful supervision, every day becomes a learning day.
What Footsteps Nurseries Provide Outdoors
Our outdoor spaces are carefully designed to inspire exploration:
- Mud kitchens and sensory areas
- Climbing structures and balance challenges
- Gardening plots and nature observation spaces
- Water play areas
- Loose parts like crates, tyres, planks and natural materials
These environments reflect our vision of creating sustainable, family centred nurseries where children experience joyful, meaningful learning.
Safety and Comfort
We ensure outdoor learning remains safe and enjoyable:
- Age-appropriate risk assessments
- High-quality clothing and clear routines
- Supervision that supports independence without limiting exploration
- Teaching children how to take safe risks confidently
- Wellbeing and safeguarding remain our highest priorities.
Supporting Outdoor Play at Home
Families can easily encourage outdoor learning:
- Walks in any weather
- Collecting natural items for sorting or crafts
- Simple gardening jobs
- Water play with household containers
- Obstacle courses using everyday items
Even small outdoor moments can make a big impact
