ABSTRACT

That is why it is essential that children get the opportunity to explore what is beyond the four walls of their classroom. Good Foundation Stage practitioners understand the value of linking learning to the outside world. A Foundation Stage classroom keeps its doors wide open so that children can sense and experiment and learn. There is a shared belief that there is ‘no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing’ and because of this, many classrooms store clothes that will suit the sun, the rain and the chill. They take the time to stamp in puddles and to feel the heavy thud of rain on their heads. There is a clear and deliberate connection between the outside world and the classroom, linking learning with reality and giving it purpose. And the children in these classrooms talk excitedly about these experiences. Such practice should not be confined to the Foundation Stage.