Outdoor Classroom
Bardfield Montessori is set within a peaceful farmland with the noise of passing tractors and extensive green space. All children, of all ages have access to outdoor areas, in all weathers, except when conditions are unsafe. We encourage children to move in and out as they wish extending their activities in the outdoor classroom.
The garden boasts a large green space, with real grass and forest school where children of mixed ages can collaboratively play, explore and learn.
The outdoor area has lots of opportunities for children of all ages to role play, as the children create messy mud meals in the kitchen, which they then serve and sell in their Bardfield Stores. This continues out into the big sand pit as the children have an abundance of resources to pour, measure, scoop and build in the sand as well as a boat for wonderful imaginative play.
We have recently received “Early Years Movement Mark” accreditation from Active Essex in recognition of the way we promote outdoor play.
Let the children be free; encourage them; let them run outside when it is raining; let them remove their shoes when they find a puddle of water; and when the grass of the meadows is wet with dew.
Let them run on it and trample it with their bare feet; let them rest peacefully when a tree invites them to sleep beneath its shade; let them shout and laugh when the sun wakes them in the morning.
Vegetable Patch
Our vegetable patch has evolved over the years, into a fundamental part of our nursery garden. With the support from staff the children grow fruits and vegetables to use for snack and in our freshly prepared lunches. The children grow strawberries, carrots, melon, butternut squash, courgette and more each year. In Autumn they walk towards the horse fields where they collect yummy apples and pears too.
The development of our vegetable patch encourages good sustainability practices and a strong culture that positively impacts on the environment and the growth of the children. Children being active participants in growing their own food from seed is giving lifelong lessons for them to confidently impact upon the wider world. This too is recognised in our Early Years Charter and Sustainability award
External Outings
Children will venture on countryside walks to the park and the local village of Great Bardfield. We have strong community links with onsite businesses and often take the children for experiences like planting strawberries at the garden centre; practising our table manners at Knead Food; visits to the florist where children select a variety of flowers to put into vases in the classroom; or the Post Office where children purchase Christmas Cards for writing and posting.
Our friendship with Great Bardfield Primary School enables the older children to experience a school environment and watch in awe at the concerts and performances of the children in the school hall.
We also have our own minibus, which enables us to venture even further with the children and expose them to wonderful year-round adventures like library visits, farm experiences, strawberry picking and seasonal adventures to the pumpkin patch.
Supporting Outdoor Learning
Bardfield Montessori provides suitable clothing such as sunhats and sun cream in the summer and warm, waterproof clothes in the winter.
We ensure children wear labelled high viz jackets on small group outings too, all of which is provided so that all children can always be prepared to be outside.
Forest School
Forest school provides a specialised learning approach that offers children regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences in a woodland. The children are offered the opportunity to visit forest school during the week, if they so wish.
Children can experience the awe and wonder that nature offers us in a real woodland environment supported by our two qualified forest school leaders Mr Danny and Mr Jake. With each visit to the forest school children will learn new skills linked to survival of man and caring for the natural environment.
This specialised learning approach enables children to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences. You will soon notice your child’s increasing confidence and willingness to explore new challenges.