Children in Yellow Room at St Werburgh’s Park Nursery School have been busy in the allotment this month, taking on the important role of caring for the plants and watching them grow.
The children have been watering, pulling out weeds and carefully looking to see which vegetables are ready to harvest. These hands-on experiences have given children the chance to develop their understanding of growth and change, whilst building responsibility and confidence as they work together outdoors. Through these real-life tasks, children have learned how to be stewards of a growing space.
As part of this learning, children have been talking about how to look after nature. They have explored why it is important not to pick fruit before it is ready, and what plants need to stay healthy and continue growing. These conversations have supported children’s communication and language skills, encouraging them to share ideas, ask questions and think about the world around them. Children have also been making links to their own experiences, discussing the gardens they have at home and what they notice on their journeys to nursery. Talking about the trees and flowers they see has helped deepen their understanding of the natural environment, whilst building meaningful connections between home and nursery life.
These allotment experiences support children’s curiosity about the natural world, helping them to develop care and respect for their environment whilst learning through meaningful, real-life experiences.