Beach School

Learning at the Water’s Edge — Beach School at Hove Village

Inspiring Young Minds Through Coastal Adventures

At Hove Village Day Nurseries, we’re incredibly lucky to have the beach right on our doorstep — and we make the very most of it. Our Beach School programme is a unique part of life at Hove Village, offering children regular opportunities to explore, discover, and learn in one of nature’s most inspiring classrooms — the coastline.

Beach School builds confidence, curiosity, and a sense of wonder, all while helping children connect with their environment in meaningful and memorable ways.

What is Beach School?

Beach School is an outdoor learning experience inspired by the Forest School ethos — but set at the coast. It encourages children to explore the natural coastal environment through hands-on, play-based learning.

Children are guided to discover the rhythms of the tides, investigate marine life, and engage with natural materials like shells, sand, pebbles, and driftwood — all while developing essential skills that support their growth and development.

How Beach School Helps Children Learn

Curiosity-Driven Discovery

The ever-changing beach provides endless opportunities for exploration — from searching for shells to learning about tides, waves, and coastal wildlife.

Problem-Solving and Creativity

Children design, build, and experiment — creating sand structures, driftwood sculptures, and games inspired by the natural landscape.

Physical Development

Walking on sand, balancing on rocks, climbing, digging, and moving with the elements all help develop strength, coordination, and gross motor skills.

Resilience and Confidence

The natural challenges of the beach — from navigating uneven terrain to working together — help children build confidence, perseverance, and independence.

Environmental Awareness

By learning to care for the coastline — through litter-picking, understanding wildlife, and respecting the tide — children develop a deep sense of environmental responsibility.

Where Beach School Happens

Our Beach School sessions take place along Hove seafront, including the beautiful stretch near our Sea Lanes nursery at Madeira Drive. The wide-open beach, rock pools (when tides allow), and marine environment offer the perfect setting for hands-on, nature-based learning.

Why Beach School Matters

Supports mental health and wellbeing
Encourages physical fitness and resilience
Sparks curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity
Fosters respect for nature and sustainability
Builds confidence, independence, and teamwork skills

Safe, Supported, and Supervised

Our trained team ensures that Beach School is always safe, carefully risk-assessed, and appropriate for children’s ages and abilities. We embrace supervised risk in a way that helps children learn boundaries, stay safe, and gain life skills — all while having fun.

Join Us by the Sea

At Hove Village Day Nurseries, Beach School is more than an activity — it’s a way of learning that fosters a lifelong love of the natural world. Children leave with sandy shoes, happy smiles, and a head full of stories about their adventures by the sea.

Book a visit today to find out how our Beach School programme inspires confident, capable, and curious learners.