Transform outdoor learning across your whole school with sustained, practical support from The Muddy Puddle Teacher®.
The 1-Year Outdoor Learning Mentorship is designed for schools, nurseries and educational settings that want outdoor learning to become part of everyday practice—not a short-lived initiative that disappears once the initial training has finished.
Over 12 months, we help your team build confidence, improve provision and develop a realistic outdoor learning approach that works for your children, staff, curriculum and available space. Explore The Complete Guide to Outdoor Learning for more insight into this powerful pedagogy.
Move from Outdoor Learning Ideas to Lasting Change
Many schools begin with plenty of enthusiasm but struggle to maintain momentum. Staff may lack confidence, resources can become overwhelming and outdoor learning may become limited to occasional themed days.
Our mentorship provides the longer-term guidance needed to turn your vision into consistent practice.
We help you:
- Create a clear whole-school outdoor learning vision
- Build staff confidence gradually
- Develop sustainable outdoor provision
- connect outdoor learning to the EYFS and National Curriculum
- Support SEND, wellbeing and engagement
- Use natural, recycled and low-cost resources
- Reduce unnecessary printing and expensive equipment
- Embed outdoor learning across subjects and year groups
- Identify and support an outdoor learning lead
- Review progress and decide the next steps
This is practical school development—not simply a collection of outdoor activity ideas.
Who Is the Outdoor Learning Mentorship For?
The programme is suitable for:
- Nurseries and preschools
- Infant, junior and primary schools
- Special schools and SEND provisions
- Alternative provisions and nurture settings
- Schools beginning their outdoor learning journey
- Schools that already work outside but need greater consistency
- Leadership teams seeking sustainable whole-school improvement
We adapt the support to your starting point. You do not need a woodland, specialist outdoor classroom or large budget. We help you make purposeful use of the space and resources you already have.
What Will Your School Develop?
A Clear Outdoor Learning Vision
We help leaders decide what successful outdoor learning should look like in their setting.
Your approach should reflect the needs of your children rather than copying another school. Together, we consider your curriculum, staff confidence, outdoor space, resources, routines and existing strengths.
Confident and Motivated Staff
Successful outdoor learning depends on adults feeling confident enough to take learning outside.
The mentorship supports staff with manageable strategies, practical training and realistic expectations. We explore the role of the adult as a facilitator and play buddy—knowing when to introduce structure, when to model and when to step back.
Schools that need an initial introduction can also explore our complete range of outdoor learning training packages
Sustainable Outdoor Provision
Outdoor areas do not need to be filled with expensive resources.
We help schools create stripped-back, flexible provision using carefully selected materials such as:
- Bamboo canes
- Colourful ropes
- Chalk and chalk pens
- Clay
- Cones
- Crates and planks
- Natural loose parts
- Recycled and upcycled materials
These resources can be used repeatedly across different subjects, ages and learning intentions.
Curriculum Learning Outdoors
Outdoor learning should enhance the curriculum rather than become an additional subject for teachers to fit into an already busy timetable.
We help staff identify meaningful opportunities to take learning outdoors across:
- English and oracy
- Maths
- Science
- Art and design
- Design technology
- Geography and history
- Physical development and PE
- PSHE and wellbeing
- Early Years continuous provision
Staff learn how to adapt existing objectives so that outdoor learning becomes a teaching method rather than another planning burden.
More Inclusive Learning
Movement, practical exploration and open-ended resources can provide valuable alternative ways for children to participate and demonstrate their understanding.
Your mentorship can help staff consider:
- Sensory differences
- Communication needs
- Regulation and co-regulation
- Physical access
- Predictable routines
- Flexible ways to record learning
- Opportunities for choice and independence
- Children who find classroom-based learning difficult
Outdoor learning should be accessible, purposeful and responsive to individual needs.
A Whole-School Approach to Outdoor Learning
Sustainable improvement requires more than one enthusiastic teacher. It needs visible leadership, shared expectations and manageable systems.
The mentorship can support:
Senior Leaders
Develop a clear strategy, identify priorities and understand how outdoor learning can support curriculum development, inclusion, engagement and wellbeing.
Outdoor Learning Coordinators
Build the confidence and knowledge needed to guide colleagues, organise resources and maintain progress.
Schools wishing to develop a dedicated leader can also explore our accredited training through the outdoor learning training packages
Teachers and Practitioners
Discover practical ways to teach outdoors without producing completely separate plans or relying on complicated equipment.
Teaching Assistants and Support Staff
Understand how to support communication, play, regulation, intervention and curriculum learning outside.
Lunchtime Teams
Use loose parts and simple outdoor play opportunities to improve engagement, cooperation and positive social interaction during unstructured times.
Why Choose a 12-Month Mentorship?
A single training day can inspire staff, but meaningful change takes time.
A year-long approach gives your school opportunities to:
- Establish its starting point
- Agree priorities
- Introduce changes gradually
- Put training into practice
- Review what is working
- Address barriers as they arise
- Adapt provision and routines
- Celebrate progress
- Build a sustainable plan for the future
This gradual process helps prevent staff overload and creates change that is more likely to continue beyond the programme.
The Muddy Puddle Teacher® Approach
The Muddy Puddle Teacher® approach was created by teacher, author and outdoor learning consultant Sarah Seaman.
Our approach connects curriculum teaching with active, sustainable and inclusive outdoor practice. We are not a Forest School provider and we do not expect schools to have specialist woodland spaces.
Instead, we help teachers make purposeful use of playgrounds, yards, fields and existing school grounds. A few adaptable resources can be used for phonics, storytelling, maths, science, history, art, oracy and much more.
Schools looking for shorter or introductory options can explore:
- Outdoor Learning Training Packages
- Outdoor Learning INSET and School Training
- Outdoor Learning Training Events
- Outdoor Learning Membership and Accredited Courses
Begin Your School’s Outdoor Learning Journey
The 1-Year Outdoor Learning Mentorship gives your school the practical training, direction and sustained support needed to make outdoor learning achievable.
Whether you are beginning from scratch, improving Early Years provision, developing curriculum learning outdoors or creating a more inclusive whole-school approach, we will help you take realistic steps towards lasting change.
Enquire today about 1-Year Outdoor Learning Mentorship for your school.
Together, we can create an outdoor learning approach that is active, sustainable, inclusive and firmly embedded in everyday practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an outdoor learning mentorship?
An outdoor learning mentorship provides sustained guidance and school-development support over an extended period. Unlike a one-off training session, it allows staff to introduce changes, review progress and receive help with challenges as they arise.
Does our school need a large outdoor space?
No. The Muddy Puddle Teacher approach can be used in playgrounds, yards and small school grounds. We focus on making better use of your existing space rather than requiring expensive new facilities.
Is this the same as Forest School training?
No. Forest School is a distinct approach. Our mentorship focuses on curriculum-led outdoor learning, play, sustainable provision, inclusion and whole-school development.
Can the mentorship support EYFS and primary staff?
Yes. The approach can support Early Years, KS1 and KS2 teams, with ideas adapted to children’s ages, learning objectives and developmental needs.
Can it help schools support children with SEND?
Yes. Inclusion can be built into the school’s outdoor learning strategy, with consideration given to communication, sensory needs, regulation, movement, physical access and different ways of participating.
Is the mentorship suitable for schools new to outdoor learning?
Yes. The programme can begin with the foundations of outdoor learning before helping your school develop provision, staff practice and curriculum connections gradually.