Long, drawn out post. Sorry.
I've been looking at a very leafy pre school option for DD.
The kids looked amazingly happy and all focused on what they were doing - climbing around small trees?! Playing with a toy digger that picks up bark. Playing in sand and mud. Painting outside. The owner seems very passionate that this type of free range outdoors environment is great for them.
She then went onto say they only really use the building (it's like a cold school dinner hall) for lunch times and 1-1 or small group activities. But those are very short activities and it isn't really used if the weather is bad.
I made a joke and said 'oh not if it's that bad though haha'. She said no, we are outside pretty much 24/7
How can this be? Surely heavy rain and freezing temps would mean you'd want to be inside?
The changing unit and toilets are also outside! In a little out house thing that resembles more of a shed
The ground facilities look amazing and the children would have access to feed chickens. They have a few acres
She said many parents actually choose to keep their DC here if they're not nearing 5 come school age, because this is what's best for small children - nature and play
Surely she's having me on that they can't be outside all that time? 
I will add that I visited it 4 years ago with my son but he thankfully got a special needs school in time (profound disabilities).
DD is diagnosed as autistic and is semi verbal (few words out of context) but very sweet and likes interaction and praise so would probably suit this for now
It's in a very small village in Central Bedfordshire if anyone's local and might know what I'm on about?