Early Learning Schools let children enjoy childhood in the world’s most natural surroundings; the outdoors. In our schools, children experience the outdoors in all types of weather, exploring, learning and creating memories that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Glen Outdoor first opened eight years ago and we are Ireland’s first outdoor school.
Our children blossom because we allow nature to nurture them. They spend 80% of their day outdoors with access to all types of nature. Our classroom is roofed only by the sky, with floors so wondrous and ever-changing and an environment that provides endless opportunities for learning.
We celebrate children’s independence and stimulate their learning and development through the natural beauty and fresh air surrounding us. After all, there is no book that holds pictures more awe-inspiring than nature. Nor colour charts as striking as the flowers and trees. Our children learn to count using nature’s abundance, from the leaves on the trees to the pebbles on the ground. And what better way to learn the colours of the rainbow than through nature’s beautiful flowers? No cover can match what nature can teach us.
Our custom built centres are specifically designed to bring the magic of the outdoors into children’s lives. We want to encourage more outdoor play in childhood because we believe it creates a lifelong habit of exercise that leads to healthier and happier young people. In essence, we want to give children back their childhood.
Our role is to support and guide young children through their active learning adventures and experiences. We are registered with the HSE and follow the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, Aistear. Our children follow the same curriculum as other pre-schools and prepare for primary school in the exact same way. The only difference is our tables are outside and instead of blackboards, we use trees.
We received the NCNA / Early Years All Ireland Centre of Excellence Award and we cater for all ages from 3 months to 12 years. The curriculum framework is based on the High / Scope approach which gives the child and adult shared control, recognising that the power to learn resides within the child. We also follow Siolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education. All staff are qualified, have first aid certificates and full Garda clearance
