A headteacher is getting her reception children into the outdoors in an attempt to help children affected by the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Sarah Griffiths, headteacher of Brighton Girls Prep School, is taking children out into the South Downs and on to the beach to teach them how to whittle, build dens and light fires.

Mrs Griffiths said the move is a bid to combat a learning gap in children born during the pandemic who are suffering developmental delays due to the isolation of lockdowns.

She said: “The children that have just arrived in reception, as well as Year 1s, were born at a time when families had to stay in bubbles and and their earliest years when they should be learning crucial developmental skills were marred by lockdowns.

“The first instinct when dealing with such young children is to worry about health and safety but four and five-year-olds really thrive with this sort of learning and responsibility and they come away feeling really proud of their achievements.

“They learn how to speak up and overcome small problems and all those things boost their independence and confidence.”

Mrs Griffiths said reception and Year 1 classes will spend every Tuesday out of the school playing and being given fun tasks to help build problem solving and socialising skills.

The move comes over concerns that babies born during the Covid-19 pandemic are experiencing a delay in developing social skills due to the isolation of lockdowns.

Mrs Griffiths added: “Outdoor play for younger children is a vital part of their learning. Forest school has long been a tool used in primary teaching but a few hours every so often is not enough. It needs to be embedded one day every week so that children can really build those vital early skills.”