ON FRIDAY, June 22, a new outdoor parent and toddler group launches at St Kew ACE Academy.

Little Kews will run every Friday afternoon during term time from 1.30pm to 3pm, giving children and their families the opportunity to play and learn together through outdoor games and activities.

Children will be able to enjoy nature-based crafts, scavenger hunts, growing in the polytunnels and kitchen garden, stories and campfire cooking in the strawbale roundhouse. The sessions are open to children aged up to four years, along with their parents or carers.

Little Kews is the latest addition to St Kew Pre-School, which moved onto the school site last November and is currently the only outdoor pre-school in the Wadebridge area. Ofsted-rated ‘good’, the early years unit benefits from qualified teacher-led sessions.

Head of school, Rachel Murray, said: “Getting young children outside is incredibly important for all aspects of their development. It’s also great fun. We’re really excited about the opportunity to invite younger children and their parents and carers to come and enjoy the wonderful setting and outdoor facilities that we have at St Kew.”

The academy has been working with the Eden Project to develop a nature-based curriculum for the school and pre-school. Landscape design students from the world-famous environmental education charity have also been helping them to design a bespoke outdoor play area.