Outdoor Learning Coordinator
Learning through play
Children today are growing up in a society where they have: Much less freedom to play out of doors
 Less opportunity to socialise and play with other children away from
an adult
 Less opportunity to play in mixed age groups – not only is there less
street play but most children come from smaller families
 More visual input from television, computers, videos and pictures in
books, together with fewer opportunities to listen and create mental
images
Research shows that children making a later start to formal schooling
generally achieve more academically because their early years experience
was meaningful and gave them a more solid foundation for later learning.
The Foundation Phase / Stage was informed by this research and requires
reception teachers to build on the same play-based curriculum that is well
established in the best nursery and pre-school settings.
Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (adopted by the
General Assembly of the UN 20th November 1989).
“Parties recognise the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in
play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to
participate freely in cultural life and the arts. Parties shall respect and
promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life
and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities
for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity”.
Outdoor Learning coordinator course handout © Cambium 2013