What Strategies are currently used in the outdoor learning environment Essay

What Strategies are currently used in the outdoor learning environment to support childrens development within the Early Years - Essay Example It can play a critical role in the development of these children because it provides a different perspective to the learning process. This is more so if the children are in the early years, what is commonly referred to as the Early Years Foundation Stage (Perry 2001). Research has shown that the act of being indoors has a positive impact on the child’s sense of well-being while also contributing to the various aspects of the child’s development. Being outdoors gives the young children an opportunity to make full use of their senses, to explore their surrounding and an opportunity to be physically active (Jones 2004). They get an opportunity to experience firsthand contact with the natural world more so the seasons and the weather. This is in sharp contrast to the confined environment of the classrooms; children also get an opportunity to do things differently than when they are indoors. This type of all rounded approach to learning is very critical to the progress of the child. Outdoor learning is usually remembered for long periods of time after the lessons have taken place. This is because; the outdoor experiences and adventures indulged in add to the relevance and depth to what is learnt in indoor environments. It influences the literacy and numeracy by making it possible to use theories learnt elsewhere (Saracho 2002). Children can use maps, charts, spoken word, measuring angles and bearings. It gives them a deeper meaning of the information. Educational practitioners are increasingly making use of the external environment as a tool for learning because of various reasons. Most important is that the environment has certain unique characteristics and features that can be adapted to offer valuable learning experiences to the children. Given that development has an all rounded agenda, it has been found that outdoor learning has the same value as indoor learning and both should be given priority. Another key

Comparative analysis of food retailers growth strategies in the UK Research Paper

Comparative analysis of food retailers growth strategies in the UK - Research Paper Example Traill (1998) asserts that the food retail sector is characterized by competitive and innovative retailers who have remain resilient despite economic downturns. There are high stable street independent retailers, but most of them struggle to survive due to the rapidly changing business environment and changes in consumer behaviour (Henry, 2011). There is evidence of high concentration of economic power by the industries in the food retail chain between the primary producers and consumers (Henry, 2011). The supermarket model in the UK is characterized by self-service shopping with various departments that handle the production and distribution of the food grocery items. The sector has made savings through elimination of the traditional wholesaler, and ensuring direct supply from the manufacturing industries to regional distribution centers, and finally to the superstores that are conveniently located near the customers (Department of Trade and Industry, 2004). The lower unit costs and high net margins associated with supermarkets have increased their market share and contributed to ‘spiral growth’. Some of the features that are evident in the spiral growth of the leading supermarket retailers such as Tesco and Wal-Mart include the high costs of market entry due to the lower prices. For instance, Wal-Mart’ s ‘Every Day Low pricing model’ ensures savings made in the supply chain activities are passed on to consumers through price reductions thus contributing to high sales volumes and significant market growth. Accordingly, the spiral growth is characterized by own labeling that return the highest contribution margins to the retailers. The retailers’ brands are capable of competing effectively with the manufacturer’s brands through packaging and shelf placement. The own labels do not only enhance the revenues, but also improve the retailer brand