ABSTRACT
The importance of the nursery outdoor area has now been formalised by the Early Years Foundation Stage guidance, introduced in September 2000 and reconfirmed in the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (May 2008). The Framework firmly places outdoor provision and outdoor play at the heart of under-fives educational provision. Throughout the document there are references to outdoor play, including ‘[t]he rich and varied environment supports children’s learning and development. It gives them the confidence to explore and learn in secure and safe yet challenging, indoor and outdoor spaces’ (DfCSF 2008 Cards: 3.3) and ‘Play underpins the delivery of all the EYFS. Children must have opportunities to play indoors and outdoors’ (DfCSF 2008 Practice Guidance: 07). So it is not a case of if you fancy going outside; it is a must. This also means there should be no excuses as to why a quality outdoor area cannot be provided. I always say: ‘compensate for the constraints and exploit the opportunities’ or ‘where there is a will there is a way’.
