Students explore the great outdoors

Early Years students got hands on at a Forest School experience day at Wat Tyler Park to enhance their knowledge of outdoor learning.

The Level 2 and 3 students, who study at the College’s Southend and Thurrock Campuses, learnt how to establish a safe environment for children outside and engage them in simple outdoor activities.

The Early Years programme includes units based around children’s play, so this experience allowed students to learn in a real environment.

Students made mud faces, clay hedgehogs, outside dens and also took part in an outdoor cooking session.

Jo Muckle, Health & Science Student Manager said it was a fantastic day.

She said: “Our students gained understanding of how children behave very differently when outdoors showing more confidence and independence and working with different social groups. Despite the cold, everyone had a fantastic time.”

To find out more about Early Years course at the College, visit www.southessex.ac.uk