Looking for a simple way to show parents the value of outdoor learning during your school open day? Our Open Day Outdoor Learning Parent Packs are designed for Muddy Trained Schools who want to proudly share how they use outdoor learning to support happy, active and engaged children. Do you feel a little overwhelmed or hit hurdles when it comes to actually getting your children outside? Try reading our parents’ guide: How to Get Your Children Outdoors.
These parent packs help schools explain the benefits of outdoor learning in a clear, family-friendly way. They are perfect for open days, new starter events, transition meetings, nursery tours, Reception visits, parent information evenings and school welcome packs.
If your school has trained with The Muddy Puddle Teacher, this is a lovely way to show parents that outdoor learning is not “just play” — it is part of your school culture, curriculum and approach to children’s wellbeing.
You can start today with a 60-day free trial.
New to sharing outdoor learning with parents? Start here
Parents often love the idea of children being outdoors, but they may not always understand how outdoor learning supports real learning.
They may wonder:
“Will my child still learn properly?”
“What happens in bad weather?”
“Is it safe?”
“Is this just playtime?”
“Will my child get muddy every day?”
“How does outdoor learning support phonics, maths, confidence and wellbeing?”
Your open day is the perfect chance to answer these questions before they are even asked.
A parent pack gives families something clear and professional to take away, helping them understand your school’s outdoor learning approach.
To find the full catalogue of outdoor activities for families, head to the Parents Hub.
Try this at your next open day
The Outdoor Learning Welcome Table
Set up a small table or display near your entrance, classroom or outdoor area.
Include:
- Your Open Day Outdoor Learning Parent Packs
- Photos of children learning outdoors
- A basket of natural resources
- A simple outdoor learning example
- A quote about why your school values outdoor learning
- A sign saying “Ask us about outdoor learning at our school”
Time: 10 minutes to set up
Prep: Low
Best for: School open days, nursery visits, Reception tours and transition events
Why it works: It helps parents immediately see outdoor learning as purposeful, professional and part of your school identity.
This is a simple way to turn your Muddy Puddle Teacher training into visible parent confidence.
Why give parents an outdoor learning pack?
A parent pack helps parents understand what makes your school special.
It can show that your school values:
- Active learning
- Outdoor play
- Child-led exploration
- Curriculum-linked outdoor lessons
- Wellbeing and regulation
- Confidence and independence
- Practical learning
- Nature connection
- Inclusive learning
- Happy, engaged children
For many parents choosing a school, outdoor learning can be a powerful point of difference. It shows that your school is thinking about the whole child, not just worksheets and test results.
What is included in an Open Day Outdoor Learning Parent Pack?
The pack can help parents understand your outdoor learning approach in a simple and reassuring way.
It may include:
- What outdoor learning is
- Why your school values outdoor learning
- How outdoor learning supports the curriculum
- How children learn maths and literacy outdoors
- How outdoor learning supports wellbeing
- How families can support outdoor play at home
- What children might need to wear
- What happens in different weather
- FAQs for parents
- A simple outdoor activity families can try at home
This helps parents leave your open day feeling informed, reassured and excited.
Why outdoor learning matters to parents
Parents want to know their child will be safe, happy, confident and learning.
Outdoor learning can support this beautifully.
It gives children opportunities to:
- Move more
- Talk more
- Explore more
- Build confidence
- Use imagination
- Develop independence
- Strengthen friendships
- Practise problem-solving
- Learn through real experiences
- Regulate emotions
- Connect with nature
- Enjoy school
When schools explain this clearly, parents start to see outdoor learning as a strength, not an extra.
Outdoor learning is not “just play”
One of the most important messages for parents is that outdoor learning is purposeful.
Children may be jumping, building, collecting, balancing, digging, counting, talking or exploring — but they are also learning.
For example:
- Counting stones supports early maths
- Making stick letters supports phonics
- Building dens supports problem-solving
- Nature walks support vocabulary
- Mud kitchens support communication
- Outdoor games support teamwork
- Sensory play supports regulation
- Seasonal changes support science
The Open Day Outdoor Learning Parent Pack helps schools explain this in language parents understand.
Looking for ways to get the kids off the technology? Try these active morning activities.
Open day idea for Muddy Trained Schools
The “Look What We Learn Outdoors” Display
Create a simple display using photos, quotes and examples.
You could include:
Maths outdoors: counting, measuring, shape hunts, patterns
Literacy outdoors: story trails, phonics games, mark-making, vocabulary walks
Science outdoors: plants, weather, habitats, seasonal changes
PSHE outdoors: teamwork, confidence, resilience, friendships
SEND support outdoors: regulation, movement, sensory play, communication
Add copies of your parent pack nearby so families can take one home.
This helps parents connect the outdoor activities they see with real curriculum and child development outcomes.
How these packs support school marketing
Your school open day is not just a tour. It is a chance to show families what makes your setting different.
Outdoor learning can help your school communicate that it is:
- Nurturing
- Active
- Creative
- Inclusive
- Child-centred
- Curriculum-focused
- Forward-thinking
- Wellbeing-aware
A clear parent pack helps you share this message consistently, especially when staff are busy speaking to families.
It also gives parents something to revisit after the open day when they are comparing schools.
To find the full catalogue of outdoor activities for families, head to the Parents Hub.
Try this Summer Holiday Nature Journal for Kids for a quick and easy summer holiday activity that lasts hours!
SEND-friendly parent messaging
Outdoor learning can be especially powerful for children with SEND, SEMH needs, communication differences, sensory needs or children who find classroom-based learning more challenging.
Your parent pack can help explain that outdoor learning may support:
- Emotional regulation
- Movement needs
- Sensory exploration
- Communication
- Confidence
- Social interaction
- Focus and engagement
- Transitions
- Practical learning
- Positive relationships
For parents of SEND children, this can be incredibly reassuring. It shows that your school understands that children learn in different ways.
What should parents know about clothing?
Parents often worry about children getting cold, wet or muddy.
A parent pack can gently explain what helps children enjoy outdoor learning safely and comfortably.
You may want to remind parents to provide:
- A waterproof coat
- Wellies or old trainers
- Warm socks
- A hat in winter
- Gloves in cold weather
- A sun hat in summer
- Layers that can be removed
- Clothes that can get muddy
- A named spare set of clothes, if needed
The tone should be reassuring:
“We do not expect expensive outdoor clothing. We simply want children to feel comfortable enough to move, explore and enjoy learning outdoors.”
What about wet weather?
Outdoor learning does not stop every time it rains, but it should always be safe and sensible.
Parents may appreciate knowing that schools consider:
- Temperature
- Wind
- Slippery surfaces
- Clothing
- Supervision
- Risk assessment
- Length of time outdoors
- Children’s individual needs
You can explain that some wet-weather experiences, such as puddles, rain sounds, mud play and seasonal observation, can be valuable learning opportunities when managed safely.
This helps parents feel reassured rather than worried.
How parents can support outdoor learning at home
The parent pack can also give families simple ways to continue outdoor learning beyond school.
For example:
- Go on a colour walk
- Count steps, stones or leaves
- Read a book outside
- Make letters with sticks
- Look for signs of the seasons
- Build a tiny den for a toy
- Draw with chalk
- Listen for birds
- Make a mini nature collection
- Have a snack outdoors
This helps parents see outdoor learning as something simple and achievable, not something that needs a forest or expensive equipment.
Want ready-to-use parent packs for your school?
The Muddy Puddle Teacher Club helps schools save time with ready-made outdoor learning resources, parent handouts and curriculum-linked ideas.
Inside, you can explore:
- Open Day Outdoor Learning Parent Packs
- Parent handouts
- Outdoor learning ideas
- SEND-friendly outdoor resources
- EYFS and primary outdoor activities
- Curriculum-linked planning
- Seasonal outdoor learning resources
- Muddy Trained School support materials
You can start today with a 60-day free trial.
Pages to link to next
You may also like:
- Beginner’s Guide to Outdoor Learning
- Beginner’s Guide to Getting Your Kids Outdoors
- Outdoor Learning Training
- Outdoor Learning for SEND
- EYFS Outdoor Learning
- Primary Outdoor Learning Ideas
- Outdoor Learning Parent Handouts
- What to Wear for Outdoor Learning
- Outdoor Learning in Wet Weather
- Muddy Trained Schools
FAQs
What is an Open Day Outdoor Learning Parent Pack?
An Open Day Outdoor Learning Parent Pack is a simple handout or information pack that helps schools explain their outdoor learning approach to parents during open days, tours, transition events and parent meetings.
Who are these parent packs for?
These packs are ideal for Muddy Trained Schools, nurseries, Reception classes, primary schools and settings that want to show parents how outdoor learning supports children’s learning, wellbeing and development.
Why should schools give parents an outdoor learning pack?
A parent pack helps parents understand the purpose of outdoor learning. It can answer common questions about learning, safety, clothing, weather, curriculum links and how families can support outdoor play at home.
Can outdoor learning help school open days?
Yes. Outdoor learning can be a strong part of your school identity. Sharing parent packs at open days helps families see that your school values active, practical, inclusive and child-centred learning.
What should parents know about outdoor learning?
Parents should know that outdoor learning supports the curriculum, confidence, wellbeing, communication, movement, problem-solving and independence. It is not just playtime; it is purposeful learning through real experiences.
What should children wear for outdoor learning?
Children should wear comfortable clothes they can move in, along with suitable footwear and weather-appropriate layers. Waterproof coats, wellies, warm socks, hats and gloves can help children enjoy outdoor learning in different seasons.
Does outdoor learning still happen in bad weather?
Outdoor learning can still happen in light rain or colder weather when it is safe and children are dressed appropriately. Schools should always consider safety, supervision, weather conditions and children’s individual needs.
How does outdoor learning support SEND children?
Outdoor learning can support SEND children by offering movement, sensory experiences, practical tasks, regulation opportunities, communication, teamwork and different ways to access learning.
Can parents do outdoor learning at home?
Yes. Parents can support outdoor learning with simple activities such as colour walks, counting leaves, reading outside, chalk drawing, stick letters, nature hunts, den building and seasonal observations.
Do schools need to be Muddy Trained to use these packs?
These packs are especially useful for Muddy Trained Schools because they help communicate the value of your training and outdoor learning approach to parents. They can support consistency across staff, families and school messaging.
Ready to share outdoor learning with parents?
Your open day is the perfect opportunity to show parents that outdoor learning is part of your school’s culture, curriculum and care for the whole child.
The Open Day Outdoor Learning Parent Packs help Muddy Trained Schools explain outdoor learning clearly, professionally and confidently.
You can start today with a 60-day free trial. today and access ready-made outdoor learning resources, parent handouts and school support materials.
