Early Years Outdoor

My name is Katie and I am the leader of two Foundation stage units in South Yorkshire. I have been teaching for 12 years and taught in the Foundation stage and Key Stage one, but my passion lies within the early years. I love outdoor play and all things natural. At home, I have three of my own children aged 16, 9 and 3.

I am a firm believer of using natural materials over store bought items in my setting. Not only are they free, but nature provides children with an understanding of the natural environment and will hopefully enable them to grow up respecting and taking care of the world around them. Children approach nature with awe and wonder and use it in ways we could never imagine.

Nature numbers, shapes and an alphabet!

Last Summer, as I was preparing my classroom for the new academic year I searched online for an alphabet/letter display that I could put up. Feeling disheartened at finding only generic printed letters I decided to create a nature alphabet with the help of some friends on Instagram. From this idea, I went on to create an uppercase alphabet, numbers and shapes using only nature. I turned these into images that can be downloaded and printed. They look beautiful in my classroom as part of displays but have also been an invaluable resource as part of continuous provision and activities. I have used them as inspiration for children to create their own, teamed up with nature and loose parts. I have also paired them with alphabet/number stones and the children have found their own ways of using them.