Counselling Skills in Education by Culley, Susan; Bond, Tim; White, Jan;

Short description:

Written by a team of experts in the field, this book focuses on the core values of effective outdoor provision, and is packed with ideas to try out in practice.

Long description:

Outdoor education offers children special contexts for play and exploration, real experiences, and contact with the natural world and the community. To help ensure young children thrive and develop in your care, this book provides essential information on how to make learning outdoors a rich and valuable part of their daily life.

Written by a team of experts in the field, this book focuses on the core values of effective outdoor provision, and is packed with ideas to try out in practice. Topics covered include:

- the role of play in learning outdoors

- meaningful experiences for children outdoors

- the role of the adult outdoors

- creating a dynamic and flexible outdoor environment

- dealing with challenge, risk and safety

- including every child in outdoor learning

There are case studies of successful strategies in action, covering the Birth to 5 age range. Outdoor provision needs to be thoughtfully planned, well organised and appropriately supported by adults, and this book will help practitioners and students to lead good practice with confidence, so that they respond to the needs and interests of young children.

'If you are looking to enrich outdoor play experiences for young children, this is an inspirational text that could be written just for you'
-Early Years Educator

'There is much here to inspire the practitioner who knows that outdoor provision is important but isn't quite sure how to implement it in their setting...They will find plenty of new ideas to help them develop and extend their practice to provide even more interesting and stimulating experiences for children'
-Early Years Update

Table of Contents:

Introduction - Jan White
The Role of Play: Play Outdoors as the Medium and Mechanism for Well-Being, Learning and Development - Felicity Thomas and<b> Stephanie Harding
Following Children's Interests: Child-Led Experiences that are Meaningful and Worthwhile - Liz Magraw
Adults are Essential: The Roles of Adults Outdoors - Tim Waller
Capturing the Difference: The Special Nature of the Outdoors - Jan White
A Responsive Environment: Creating a Dynamic, Versatile and Flexible Environment - Ros Garrick
Offering Rich Experiences: Contexts for Play, Exploration and Talk - Claire Warden
As Long as They Need: The Vital Role of Time - Di Chilvers
Achieving the Balance: Challenge, Risk and Safety - Helen Tovey
Outdoor Play for Everyone: Meeting the Needs of Individuals - Theresa Casey
Taking an Active Part: Everyday Participation and Effective Consultation - Miranda Murray