Outdoor Play Policy

At Winston’s Place Day Nursery, we recognise the importance of daily outdoor play and physical development and are committed to ensuring all children have daily access to outdoor play, regardless of their age or stage of development or individual need, in line with EYFS requirements for physical development and learning and development.

Where possible, this includes the children having free flow access to the outdoors allowing them the freedom to choose whether to play indoors or out. We provide an inclusive outdoor play environment, with areas for non-mobile children to freely explore. Reasonable adjustments are made where required, in line with the Equality Act 2010. We access outdoor play in all weathers, unless it is deemed unsafe to do so following a risk assessment.

We understand the vital role that learning outdoors has on children’s development and wellbeing. Regular outdoor play supports:
• Children’s physical health and fitness
• Development of gross and fine motor skills
• Exploration, curiosity and investigate learning
• Learning in a natural environment
• Access to sunlight to support healthy vitamin D absorption
• Emotional wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem

Outdoor environments, both within the nursery grounds and in the local community, have a wealth of experiences and resources, which help children to learn and develop in a variety of ways, including independence, exploration and investigative skills, risk taking and self-esteem, all of which support children to develop skills now and for the future.

We take reasonable steps to ensure children’s safety through risk assessments, while maintaining a balanced approach that recognises the learning benefits of appropriate ‘risky play.’ Risky play is carefully planned, supervised and reviewed to allow children to explore their own limits and boundaries in a safe, supportive environment and trained practitioners.

Staff are informed of all safety procedures and receive appropriate training to ensure risk assessments and supervision procedures are followed consistently and effectively.

We ensure outdoor play is adequately supervised at all times, and we have robust safety checks in place, including regular head counts. We obtain parental permission before any child leaves the nursery during the day. This includes short outings into the local community. There is more information in the Visits and outings policy.

Outdoor play opportunities are planned to complement the EYFS curriculum and support children’s learning across the seven areas of learning and development. This includes providing children with purposeful activities and quality resources that support and follow their individual interests and the seven areas of learning and development. We plan both adult-led and child-initiated opportunities to enable children to learn and practice new skills, knowledge and behaviours. Where possible and in line with the children’s needs we will also often have snacks and meals outdoors.

When activities take place away from the nursery premises (e.g. in the local wood or community areas) then a manager/room leaders mobile phone and first aid kit will be taken to ensure the safety of children at all times. A trained paediatric first aider will be present when children are away from the main setting, and the staff-to-child ratios meet or exceed EYFS requirements.

This policy is used alongside the following policies to ensure the children’s safety, welfare and development during outdoor play:
• Health and safety – general policy/Sun care
• Caring for babies and toddlers
• Missing child from nursery
• Missing child from outings
• Parents as partners
• Supervision of children
• Safeguarding children and child protection
• Visits and outings.

This policy supports EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements, Ofsted inspection expectations, health and safety legislation and inclusive practice.