Funded by

Erasmus+, KA2

Information
Contacts
Nicola Catellani
Network Coordinator - SERN

PLEO

Improving the quality of the preschool learning environment and education outdoors

About the project

Preschool outdoor environments are often undervalued, despite their strong potential to foster children’s curiosity, creativity, and well-being. The project PLEO aims to address this gap by promoting the use of outdoor spaces as dynamic learning environments for children aged 1–6. Through nature-based learning, active play, and the use of outdoor materials, the project encourages the development of green skills, healthier lifestyles, and greater engagement across all developmental stages.

The project, developed within the SERN cooperation, brings together three partners, Luleå Municipality (Sweden), San Lazzaro Municipality (Italy), and Cadiai Cooperative (Italy), each with strong competences in innovative preschool education and complementary experiences in outdoor pedagogy. By exchanging practices across different cultural and geographical contexts, the partners will co-develop methods that enhance teachers’ professional skills and make outdoor education more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful.

Objectives

The project’s overall objective is to make outdoor environments in preschools more stimulating and effective learning spaces. The specific objectives are:

  • Develop Engaging Outdoor Environments: Create more challenging, creative, and inclusive outdoor spaces that promote active play and learning for children aged 1-6,
    stimulating curiosity and engagement across all developmental stages.
  • Improve Teachers’ Competence in Outdoor Pedagogy: Enhance teachers’ awareness of the benefits of outdoor education through professional development, helping them use outdoor settings to foster children’s cognitive, physical, and social growth.

Activities

The project foresees five main activities:

First Seminar in Sweden: it will introduce key concepts and theories of outdoor education, providing the theoretical foundation for the project.

Testing Phase: the practices identified during the seminars will be tested in preschools, with educators applying outdoor teaching methods in daily activities with children. 

Second Seminar in Italy: it will deepen the discussions from Sweden, with a focus on natural materials and playful gardens as innovative approaches to outdoor pedagogy.

Monitoring Meeting in Sweden: a follow-up meeting will review the testing phase, allowing participants to share documentation, evaluate progress, and refine methods.

Final Seminar in Italy: it will evaluate project outcomes, present results from preschools, and compile a final report to support dissemination.

Results

  • Improved outdoor environments: Design of more engaging, creative, and inclusive outdoor spaces for preschools.
  • Increased educator competence: Enhanced skills in outdoor education.
  • Greater awareness: Understanding how outdoor environments can effectively support cognitive and physical development.
  • Best practices shared: Cross-cultural exchange of successful methods.
  • Sustainability and creativity: Natural and sustainable resources become standard in outdoor environments.
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