Exploring and playing in natural environments is a key part of the early learning experience at Valla Community Preschool, nestled in the scenic Nambucca Valley on Gumbaynggirr Nation.

Through its nature-based preschool programs, children are supported to learn about the local landscapes, care for Country, build confidence and become active citizens of the Valla Beach community.

Developing the program

Phillipa Maher, Director of Valla Community Preschool, said the idea for nature preschool offerings was inspired by outings with the children.

“Back in 2005, we used to take the children out on walks quite regularly to the local cafe or watch the trains go past,” Phillipa shared. “We noticed it really opened up engagement with the children about connecting and being active citizens of their community.”

Responding to children’s interests and curiosity about their social and natural worlds, while taking advantage of its location, the preschool introduced a trial of regular beach days for 4-year-olds in 2015. “We never looked back!” Phillipa said.

Since then, the team has extended the program so all children attending the preschool have the opportunity to play, learn and explore outdoor environments beyond the service boundaries.

Valla Community Preschool early learners have also ventured beyond the beach, with the service adding local bushland and river sites to their rotation of learning environments.

Navigating risk management

Given the diverse and dynamic nature of natural spaces, effective risk management – and including children on this journey – is key.

Educators at Valla Community Preschool support children to develop basic risk management skills within their service premises, which the preschoolers then use during in-nature play.

“In our playground we do a safety check, so children know what that means and we talk about what sorts of things we need to consider,” Philippa shared. “This helps the children recognise that safety checks must be a consistent and regular practice as these spaces are not static. They can be unpredictable or change over time.”

Before venturing out to explore their local area, educators sometimes use technology for things like creating virtual walkthroughs of the natural environment and discussing potential risks with the children. The preschoolers may be shown maps of their routes so they know what their walks to and from each location will look like and can have input.

During outings, the children know they must sit before entering an area and let an adult inspect the environment first. Sometimes children will go with an adult to look for any risks and report back to the group.

Inspiring child-led inquiry

When participating in nature preschool, children are supported to direct their own learning and play, with their curiosity and experience of the natural environment guiding the way.

As Phillipa shared, “One class saw a lot of lorikeets while at the river, so for those children, the current focus has been looking at, learning about and considering ways of protecting birds.”

“Another class has been looking at shelters in nature and have been building a structure with things they have found in the area, such as sticks and grasses.”

“It’s a lot about sustainable and ecological practices, and it's an opportunity to talk about the impact we have in these spaces,” she explained. “There’s also those one-off spontaneous things children discover – and that’s the lovely thing, every day is unique and offers so much learning potential.”

When back on preschool premises, the children continue to learn about nature in various ways, for example by drawing representations of the things they see, thinking more deeply about what they now know, researching, looking at pictures and projecting images in the classroom.

Celebrating Country and culture

The preschool has collaborated with the local Muurrbay Aboriginal Language & Culture Co-operative and other Elders and community members to assist in naming its nature programs using Gumbaynggirr language. Together they have chosen: Gaagal Guul (Beach School), Wawaa Guul (Bush School) and Bindarray Guul (River School).

Weekly visits from a Gumbaynggirr language teacher from the ECE Aboriginal Language Hub and learning experiences facilitated by the preschool’s Aboriginal artist-in-residence and cultural sharer, Bernard Kelly-Edwards, enables children to strengthen their connection with the local Aboriginal community, customs and culture.

“One of the things children have learnt is that we don’t take things from natural spaces,” explained Phillipa. “They then share this message with newer children as they come in each year.”

The children have added a line to their Acknowledgement of Country, sharing their commitment to being active citizens and caring for Country: “We promise to look after the gaagal, the wawaa and the bindarray.”

Guidance and resources

• Unpacking excursions and regular outings
• The legislative requirements of an in-nature program (PDF 1082 KB)
• The how and why of in-nature programs (PDF 1134 KB)
• Risk Assessment and Management Tool (DOCX 1056 KB)