Northern Ireland
Situated in Dungannon, The Hill of the O’Neill has been witness to many important historical events through the centuries.
Two types of courses are available in England both are for practitioners working with Early Years Foundation Stage from 2-6+ years old
We have a number of courses running throughout England, complementing the EYFS Statutory Framework for children from 2 years old to the beginning of Year 1 (including mixed R/Y1 units).
The Certificate in Outdoor Practice focuses on the outdoor provision you make onsite in your setting on a daily basis for all of your children from 2-8 years old, working pre-Early level and through First level of Curriculum for Excellence.
With a strong emphasis on early childhood care and education pedagogy, it continues the learning journey begun in your initial training in teaching or early childhood education and care, deepening understandings of both child development and the support you can provide for nurturing young children’s wellbeing, learning and development through being, experiencing and playing outdoors.
We are running courses in Aberdeenshire, complementing Curriculum for Excellence, Realising the Ambition, GIRFEC and UNCRC
Two types of courses are available in Northern Ireland both are for practitioners working with Early Years Foundation Stage from 2-6+ years old.
We have a number of courses running in Northern Ireland, complementing Sure Start Programmes supporting 2-3 year-olds, the Curricular Guidance for Pre-School Education for 3-4 year-old children and the Foundation Stage guidance for 4-6 year-olds.
There are two qualifications available in Wales.
Tystygrif Bod y tu allan - Is delivered in Welsh by our partners Mudiad Meithrin & accredited by Agored Cymru. I archebu lle ar gwrs Cymraeg cysylltwch ag eunice.jones@meithrin.cymru
The Certificate in Outdoor Practice - Complimenting the Welsh curiculum & delivered in English accredited by AIME. To book onto an english language course go to our find a course page and book through the website.
If there are no courses available and you would like to express an interest please Contact us.
Both courses focus on the outdoor provision you make onsite in your setting on a daily basis for all of your children from 2-6 years old.
With a strong emphasis on early childhood care and education pedagogy, it continues the learning journey begun in your initial training in early childhood education and care, deepening understandings of both child development and the support you can provide for nurturing young children’s wellbeing, learning and development through being, experiencing and playing outdoors.
We are currently planning a number of courses across Wales, complementing the Flying Start Health Programme for 2-3 year-old children and the Curriculum for Wales Framework for children from 3-6 years old.
The Certificate in Outdoor Practice focuses on the outdoor provision you make onsite in your setting on a daily basis for all of your children from 2-6 years old.
With a strong emphasis on early childhood care and education pedagogy, it continues the learning journey begun in your initial training in early childhood education and care, deepening understandings of both child development and the support you can provide for nurturing young children’s wellbeing, learning and development through being, experiencing and playing outdoors.
We are currently developing the possibility for courses in Ireland, complementing the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework Aistear – watch this space!
Three modules each made up of 4 units work together to make up the full level 3 OCN accredited certificate, designed to encourage the development of wonderful outdoor provision that makes the most of being outside. We will support you to work your way through the qualification in the way that works best for you while maximising the benefits for your setting, colleagues, children and families.
The course has been specifically designed to extend the understanding and expertise of practitioners and teachers/TAs who have at least 2 years experience in early years practice. The course is also very suitable for those holding a nationally recognised level 3 qualification but with less experience in practice.
So as to complete the implementation aspect of the qualification, you will need to be working or on placement with children from 2 to 6 years in any private, voluntary or maintained early years setting, school or childminding service.
In general the course spans 12-14 months.
An example of a standard delivery of the full award would be one training day per month then to return to your setting to implement gained knowledge and experience. In this way you would complete a unit every month, a module every 4 months and complete the whole certificate over a 12 month period.
For Privately commisioned courses - This can be done over a shorter timescale but it is very important to allow enough time between each unit before moving on.
Employing a coaching approach, the course supports you to gradually develop a firm basis of understanding and competences in a long-term, incremental and stepped way. The structure allows you to gradually develop your own expertise across the year, providing a slow, regular and manageable approach.
Utilising a blended mix of face-to-face experiential sessions, in-person or online discussion and analysis sessions and guided study, you will be supported to work things out for yourself. Constructive observation, implementation and evaluation in your own setting’s outdoor space ensures that new understandings become embedded into your practice and are maintained. We aim for this training to work for everyone and to involve actual development of your setting’s outdoor provision and practice.
Undertaking the Certificate in Outdoor Practice will:
The qualification is content focused, incorporates active learning and supports collaboration and gradual progress. The course is:
Making a difference for practitioners and children.
The Certificate in Outdoor Practice from Outdoors Thinking has an enabling approach with the following ongoing impact and outcomes for practitioners, managers and settings:
Our course in England is accredited by Open College Network West Midlands.
Check out our FAQ page
Creating rich experiences
Creating an outdoor environment that provides a rich landscape of stimulating, meaningful and worthwhile possibilities. We take an in-depth look at the incredible potential in the ‘super-ingredients’ of excellent outdoor provision and develop these in your own setting.
Supporting Learning outdoors
Ensuring the environment being provided captures the special nature of the outdoors and meets the children’s needs. We explore in depth the natural learning methods of early childhood and work to transfer these into actual practice through developing your educational role.
Making outdoor provision work well
Making learning outdoors enjoyable and rewarding and sustainable, requires organisation and management, this third step of the award supports you to make the most of developments in the two prior modules and to continue unlocking the fabulous potential of taking learning outdoors