free play | Creative STAR Learning | I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here!

7 Reasons to Have Willow Structures in your School Grounds

Jan 12, 2023 | Early Years Outdoors, Gardening

This is blog post is co-written by myself and Clare Revera. She is a consultant and trainer who used work at Out to Learn Willow. This company specialises in training adults and children in the traditional craft of willow weaving, using dried and living willow. They...

Leaf Art

Oct 27, 2022 | Art & Music Outdoors, Early Years Outdoors, Nature Play & Learning

Many people know about environmental art. Andy Goldsworthy made the concept public and popular from the Eighties onwards. More recently land artists such as Richard Shilling and James Brunt provide child-friendly inspiration through their inspirational art work. Some...

Tyres in School Grounds

Jun 26, 2022 | Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Play Resources, Whole School

I am aware that confusion and controversy exists around the use of tyres. I hope this blog post is informative and helpful so that adults who work with children can make sensible decisions based upon their own specific context. It has been written in good faith based...

Wood Logs and Lumps in Schools

Jun 8, 2013 | Developing School Grounds & Outdoor Spaces, Play Resources

In recent years moveable wooden disks, logs and planks have begun to make an appearance in more and more school grounds that I visit. If you look closely at the photos from the Inverallochy update, you can see the place is littered with wooden bits and pieces. They...

Free Play Adventures at Broxburn OOSC

Apr 16, 2013 | Community Involvement, Nature Play & Learning

You know you are going somewhere good when all you can hear is children laughing and other happy sounds coming out of a woodland. This was my introduction to Broxburn Family Centre’s Out of School Care. For more than a week of the Easter holidays, they have...