Nature play and outdoor education is the focus of Mandurah Baptist College's new Early Learning Centre.
The $4.2 million centre was officially opened on March 5 after six years of collaboration, planning and consultation.
Along with nine purpose-built classrooms, the facility features an impressive, custom designed nature playground for kindergarten to year 2 students.
Nature play is gaining popularity among schools in not only the Peel region, but all over Australia, providing students with the opportunity to solve problems, master new skills, imagine, create and interact with their environment in active ways.
There is no better space for kids to learn than the outdoors, and there is no better play resource than nature.
- Mandurah Baptist College primary school principal Rob Gratton
Primary school principal Rob Gratton said one of the best learning experiences children could have in their early years was to play outdoors.
"Nature play is unstructured play outdoors and it is vital to a healthy childhood and a child's wellbeing," he said.
"For children, play is learning. There is no better space for kids to learn than the outdoors, and there is no better play resource than nature."
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Mr Gratton said nature play was particularly important as young childrens' lives became more "high-tech".
Children innately reap great benefits as they develop a connection and appreciation of the natural environment.
"In the structured, busy and technologically-advanced world we live in, the role of outdoor play for children is often being overlooked," he said.
"Playing outdoors grows resilience, self-confidence, initiative, creativity and more. It encourages the joy of movement and it nurtures wild imaginations, experimentation, friendships, social connections and behaviour.
"Nature play also significantly improves all aspects of child development - physical, cognitive, social and emotional."
We all know that investing not only infrastructure but time, effort, faith and commitment in our early years is so important in building the foundations for a long life of learning.
- Mandurah MP David Templeman
Mandurah MP David Templeman joined in the opening ceremony last week to congratulate the school on a "magnificent building".
"We all know that investing not only infrastructure but time, effort, faith and commitment in our early years is so important in building the foundations for a long life of learning," he said.
"I want to salute our educators particularly and those that support them. Teachers, and those that support them, are very special and very important because they go on a journey with students."
The school will host an open day on March 21 for prospective families. For more information, visit the Mandurah Baptist College website.