J. Puddleducks Outdoor Nursery

If you’ve ever watched your child explore the outdoors—climbing a log, digging in the mud, or building a den—you’ve seen the kind of learning that happens naturally when children are given freedom, space, and fresh air. That’s what  forest school  is all about. And the great news? This kind of outdoor learning fits beautifully with Scotland’s  Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) , which guides all early years education. In this blog post, we’ll explain how forest school supports your child’s learning in a way that’s fun, meaningful, and fully in line with the curriculum. What Is the Curriculum for Excellence? The Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is Scotland’s national curriculum for children aged 3–18. It’s not just about reading and writing—it aims to help children become: Successful learners Confident individuals Responsible citizens Effective contributors The early years (ages 3–5) focus on learning through play, exploration, and hands-on experiences—making forest school a ...

Whether it’s splashing in puddles or discovering hidden woodland dens, getting outside with kids is always an adventure. But the right gear can mean the difference between a joyful outing and a chilly, miserable one. At J Puddleducks Outdoor Nursery, we are outdoors in all weathers, and ensuring the children are prepared and dressed appropriately is a key part of our role. Outdoor gear for kids doesn’t have to cost a fortune! With how quickly they grow, it makes sense to look for pre-loved options or budget-friendly finds. Sites like Vinted, Facebook Marketplace, and outdoor gear swaps are goldmines for great deals. Plus, hand-me-downs from family and friends can be a fantastic way to keep kids kitted out without breaking the bank. Below you will find some useful hints and tips when it comes to getting your child ready for coming to nursery; above all else, it’s important to remember layers.   ·        Layering means wearing a number of different layer...

When getting your child ready for nursery, it is important to ensure the lunch you pack for them is healthy and nutritious, but also something they will enjoy so they stay full of energy for our fun days of adventures. There are a number of useful resources out there to give you ideas and suggestions for what you can include in their lunches, but here are some top tips to get you started. Make it filling Your child’s lunch should be based on some form of carbohydrate. This could be bread, rice, pasta, etc. This will give them lots of on-going energy rather than a sudden burst of energy from too much sugar. Why not add different types of salad into your child’s sandwich to see what they enjoy more.  Consider the weather Your child’s lunch, and more importantly the temperature of it, will be dependant on the current weather. In colder months, we would suggest packing something warm to keep them cosy through the day. This could be pasta or soup for example. Unfortunately we don’...

To celebrate national story telling week 📖 we created our very own story as a team!🫸🏼🫷🏼The children contributed to the story recording their own words 🗣️🎙️and making pictures 🖼️ to illustrate their story. We sent invitations 📨 to our parents/carers and put on a “book movie” afternoon for everyone to hear the masterpiece. I think you'll agree, the end result is brilliant 🤩  

What is Play? Play is behaviour that is  freely chosen ,  personally directed , and  intrinsically motivated . That is, children determine and control the content and intent of their play, by following their own instincts, ideas, and interests, in their own way and for their own reasons.    Children have the freedom to choose how and when to play   Play is the universal language of childhood. It is an activity which exists for its own sake, but also has a fundamental role. All children should have the opportunity to play every day.   “Play creates a brain that has increased flexibility and improved potential for learning later in life” (Lesser & Russel, 2008)   Play is innate behaviour that  contributes to quality of life , sense of well-being, and is a key element in effective learning – developing physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Play has a central role in developing strong attachments. Play encourages creativity, ima...

 We have just finished our first week of running our outdoor nursery and what a week it's been! We've had 7 visits, 3 confirmed bookings and our toddler group Little Bugs is close to being fully booked! 🤩 This week's focus has been getting ready for our open day on Sunday where we would love to see as many of you as possible to show you around our nursery. From cleaning cabins, to putting up tarps, and even making a bird hide, we have done it all.  Our open day runs from 10am to 3pm on Sunday 25th.