The Outdoor Pre-School

An outdoor classroom gives The Outdoor Pre-School its defining character: nature is the setting for learning, rather than an occasional change of scenery. Based within the grounds of The Federation of Abbey Schools in Darlington, this separate preschool combines an outdoor approach with 32 places in total. Mud is part of the proposition.

At its January 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated the preschool Outstanding and found exceptional progress, with outdoor activities developing children's independence, communication and early number and writing skills. That judgement belongs to 24 January 2022. It gives families a strong assessment of the education at that time, rather than a fresh verdict on today's practice.

Children aged 2 to 5 can attend term-time sessions. The school-site address is useful context, but attendance brings no guarantee of a place at the neighbouring schools.

Learning and Activities

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the requirements for children's learning, development and care. Here, its areas of learning are planned together, with children's previous experiences and learning at home helping to shape what happens next. For parents, that means outdoor play still has an educational purpose: developing knowledge and skills through experiences that connect with the individual child.

Alongside that framework sits the Forest School Approach, which uses practical learning in woodland or other natural surroundings. The preschool applies it through outdoor experiences led by children's interests. Its outdoor classroom makes that approach a physical part of the setting, rather than simply the name of a programme. The curriculum explanation sets out how the two fit together.

In January 2022, bird observation became a reason to make tally marks, while collecting objects from the wooded area prompted conversations about quantities and comparisons. Other children counted acorns and wrote down the number they had counted. These examples show how ordinary discoveries outdoors became opportunities to practise mathematical ideas and early recording skills.

Reading and writing also had a place outside in January 2022. Staff responded to older children's interest by introducing phonics and encouraging them to write short words. The point for families is concrete: choosing an outdoor preschool need not mean choosing between practical exploration and early literacy. In those observed activities, the two happened together.

Outdoor and Community Life

Growing vegetables and learning about fire safety were part of the day in January 2022. Younger children discussed watering their plants and what the produce could become, while older children explained precautions around a campfire. Nature provided material for conversation as well as activity.

The clothing expectations follow naturally from this approach. Children are expected to get muddy, and optional uniform is offered through a partnership with Elizabeth’s Embroidery. That gives families a practical way to reserve clothes for preschool use; buying uniform is a choice.

Relationships and Communication

In January 2022, staff used information from parents to plan children's learning and understand their care needs. Settling arrangements were adapted to individual families, with particular attention to rebuilding children's confidence and social connections following the pandemic. That is a useful example of care being organised around the child rather than a single settling routine.

Work with emotions also took practical forms in January 2022. Children selected wooden spoons representing feelings and used clay faces to explore them. Some children who had experienced emotional difficulties took part in equine therapy at preschool, including leading a pony around the field. These were specific activities observed at that time, rather than a promise of a current therapy programme.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

At the January 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, supported by staff's attention to changes in children's circumstances, monitoring of absences and accidents, and recruitment checks. Safety information was also shared with families. This dated judgement is the basis for assessing safeguarding effectiveness.

For families seeking SEND information, the preschool directs parents to Darlington Borough Council's Local Offer and information from its Inclusion Service. It also points to CONTACT, a charity supporting families with disabled children. These are routes to support and information, rather than a guarantee about an individual child's provision.

A small team of early years practitioners includes management and teaching roles. The staffing structure also includes Forest School practitioner training, connecting the outdoor approach with staff preparation. In January 2022, staff used observations of one another's work to reflect on how their practice affected children's learning.

Sessions and Attendance

Term-time sessions run on weekdays from 9am to 3pm, across 38 weeks of the year. This is a defined preschool day, so families need an arrangement that fits those hours and the breaks between terms.

To join the waiting list, families complete and return the Child Registration Forms and Parent Contract. The preschool then contacts them when a place becomes available. General enquiries can be made by telephone, email or the contact form.

Getting There

The address is the site of The Federation of Abbey Schools, 126 Cleveland Terrace, Darlington, DL3 8JA. The preschool is a separate organisation and has no affiliation with the federation; sharing the grounds does not confer a school admissions advantage.

Attendance does not guarantee a Reception place at The Federation of Abbey Schools. Children apply under Darlington's school admissions arrangements on the same basis as children attending other preschools.

Funding and Paid Extras

The preschool offers the Government funded 30 hours free childcare places for eligible children. Its attendance model is term-time. Optional uniform is a separate choice within the practical preparations for outdoor play.

• Term-time timetable. The 9am to 3pm weekday sessions cover 38 weeks. Families whose working arrangements extend beyond that timetable will need care that also covers the remaining hours and school holidays.
• Outdoor preparation. Muddy clothes are expected and uniform is optional. During a visit, ask how clothing, shelter and changes of clothes are managed across different weather conditions.
• Funded-place costs. The 30-hour offer applies to eligible children. Before accepting a place, ask for written terms explaining meals, snacks, non-food consumables and any other charges alongside funded attendance.
• School admissions. Sharing The Federation of Abbey Schools' grounds does not guarantee a Reception place. Plan the school application separately from the preschool booking.

For families seeking outdoor learning within a term-time preschool day, The Outdoor Pre-School has a clear identity. Its outdoor classroom and Forest School Approach make nature central to the offer, while the January 2022 activities connect that approach with writing, number work and learning about feelings.

The strongest fit is a family comfortable with muddy exploration and the weekday session timetable. The school-site setting adds familiarity, but the preschool choice and the Reception application remain separate decisions.