Natural Thinkers is a programme that supports teachers and practitioners in connecting children with nature, through practical activities that are inspiring and motivating.

Through embedding the principles and aims of the programme childrens achievement from Early Years to Year 6 has risen and health and wellbeing increased. Central to the Natural Thinkers programme are 10 commmitments. These give a structure for teachers and practitioners to follow, enabling areas of the curriculum to be accessed. 

Read more here

Now more than ever children need to be outside!
 

Exciting news!

Natural Thinkers are very busy working behind the scenes! See below what we're up to:
 

• We are expanding the reach of our programme, by working with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB).
• We are continuing to develop our EYFS programme, with a focus on children’s well- being.  Since our partnership with Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP) we have also produced materials for 0-3-year olds.
• We are developing the programme by producing an outdoor curriculum for key stage 1 and 2 which we plan to have ready for Autumn term 2020 and will be launched alongside training opportunities.
• We are working on an accreditation for practitioners who participate in our training, which we hope will be available for the beginning of 2021.

WATCH THIS SPACE!

Natural Thinkers during lockdown

During this uncertain time, we have been thinking even more about the power of nature and its ability to support our well-being.  From speaking with friends, colleagues and our local communities we have been hearing some lovely examples of how they have been finding nature a source of calm in their lives.

For some, they have been able to access green spaces in our local communities, for others they have had to access nature from inside their homes. See our 'Nature Indoors' document on our resources page for some examples of this.

Natural Thinkers have also been testing some ideas with our own children for our LEAP parents that can be done inside and outside. You can find a scavenger hunt activity and instructions on how to make your own natural paint on our resources page. 

We would love to hear from you about what you have been up to, so please do get in contact:
 

jgordon3@lambeth.gov.uk

jmcdermid@lambeth.gov.uk