Making physical changes to enable this to happen doesn’t have to be expensive, and relatively small improvements outdoors can have disproportionately significant benefits. It’s always worth considering how you can continue to improve your outdoor provision.
The key to successful improvements outdoors is to focus on what you want the children to be able to do, rather than what you want them to have. Children’s needs are diverse at this age, so a flexible and adaptable outdoor environment is the key to supporting their development.
A really challenging, creative outdoor space might include opportunities for children to experience nature at first hand, with a mix of hard and soft areas and natural and man made materials throughout. The space might allow children to actively manipulate their environment, and might encourage them to engage in quiet as well as active play. There might be landmarks and beautiful objects that create a sense of place and give children clear messages about how much they are valued. There will certainly be grass, plants and trees, and diverse textures and spaces for children to explore and alter as the mood takes them.
It’s not just about making physical changes. Just as important are the changes you make to the way you manage the space, or the way children use it. Making sure all your colleagues understand the value of outdoor play is essential; if the policies and practices that govern the way your outdoors is used and cared for are not in place, the opportunities for meaningful learning and play outdoors will be lost.
