Professor Helen Bilton

Areas of interest

Outdoor play, teaching and learning for the Early Years and Primary
Playtime, break-time, recess: making it more successful for children, staff, teaching and learning
Oral Language development in the outdoor environment
Gender: boys and girls in class and outside, interests and control of the environment
Behaviour Management: individual class management and whole school approach
Support staff (nursery, primary and secondary): roles and responsibilities in the class and at break times. Please see: ,

See areas of interest above.

National Teaching Fellow 2012

Selected books:

Bilton, H. (2025). Planning and Outdoor Learning. A practical guide for Early Years. Routledge.
Bilton, H. (2025). Physical Development and Outdoor Learning. A practical guide for Early Years. Routledge.
Bilton, H., Bento, G. & Dias, G. (2017). Brincar ao ar livre. Opportunidades de desenvolvimento e de aprendizagem for a de portas. Porto: Porto Editora.
Bilton, H., Bento, G. & Dias, G. (2017). Taking the first steps outside. Under threes learning and developing in the natural environment. Abingdon: Routledge.
Bilton, H. & Crook, A. (2016). Exploring outdoors ages 3-11. A guide for schools. Abingdon: Routledge.
Bilton, H. (2014). Playing outside. Activities, ideas and inspiration for the early years, (2nd edn). Abingdon: Routledge.
Bilton, H. (2013). Miss I want that bike. In: S. Featherstone (Ed.), Getting ready for phonics. L is for sheep. (pp. 105-112). London: Bloomsbury Publishing plc.
Bilton, H. (2013). Setting the scene for child initiated learning out-of-doors. In: S. Featherstone (Ed.), Supporting child- initiated learning. Like bees not butterflies. (pp.73-79). London: Bloomsbury Publishing plc.
Bilton, H. (2010). Outdoor learning in the early years. Management and innovation (3rd ed.). Abingdon: David Fulton Publishers/Routledge.

Bilton, H. (2023). Guest editor. Vol 4, Issue 3, Journal of Childhood, Education and Society. DOI:
Bilton, H. & Watts.M. (2019). Early stem education: practice and prospects, Early Child Development and Care, 190(1), 1-2, DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2019.1653547. Orcid views 481.
Bilton, H. & Waters, J. (2017). Why take young children outside? A critical consideration of the professed aims for outdoor learning in the early years by teachers from England and Wales. Social Sciences, 6 (1). 1. ISSN 2076-0760. Orchid downloads 7276. Research Gate Research Interest 5.6.
Bilton, H. (2014b). What is outside? The Early Years Foundation Stage in England: Outdoor facilities, organisation and staff attitudes. American Journal of Educational Research, 2, (10), 942-949. doi:10.12691/education-2-10-14. Citations 1.
Bilton, H. (2014a). The aims of early years outdoor education in England: A conceptual and empirical investigation. International Journal of Education and Social Science, 1, (3), Oct, 38-50. Research Gate Research Interest 7.8.
Bilton, H. (2012). The type and frequency of interactions that occur between staff and children outside in Early Years Foundation Stage settings during a fixed playtime period when there are tricycles available. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 20, (3), 403-421. doi: 10.1080/1350293X.2012.704763. Citations 18.

Bilton, H. (2025). Loose parts makes whole children. CACHE aluminate online journal.
Bilton, H. (2024). How does outdoor play support children’s language development. CACHE aluminate online journal.
Bilton, H. (2024). How can you support early years staff to embrace outdoor teaching? Autumn. CACHE aluminate online journal.
Bilton, H. (2024) Changing your outdoor environment to match the season. Winter. CACHE aluminate online journal.
Bilton, H. (2024). Effective planning in the early years: balancing immediate needs with long-term goals. Spring. CACHE aluminate online journal.
Bilton, H. (2022). Making it stick: measuring the impact of online continuing professional training on the professional practice of support staff within one school. Chartered College of Teaching Journal.
Bilton, H. (2021). Using your common sense outdoors. Nursery World Magazine. Over 100,000 subscribers.
Bilton, H. (2021). Making it stick. Measuring the impact of online professional development. International Teacher Magazine.

CACHE podcast Outdoor Play and Learning (2023)

Importance of Outdoor Play