Nursery outdoor play policy

At The University of Dundee Nursery Ltd we are committed to the importance of daily outdoor play and the physical development of all children regardless of their age and stage of development. We provide outdoor play in all weathers. Where possible and appropriate, we make outdoor learning experiences accessible to children with additional support needs and disabilities to ensure inclusive practice both indoors and outdoors.

We recognise that children need regular access to outdoor play to keep fit and healthy, develop their large and fine motor skills, experience learning in a natural environment and access sunlight in order to absorb vitamin D more effectively.

The outdoor areas, within the University Campus – which include the 3 nursery enclosed gardens and the local area have a wealth of experiences and resources which help children develop in a variety of ways, including independence, exploration and investigative skills, risk taking and self-esteem, all which support children to develop skills now and for the future.

We ensure all areas are safe and secure through close supervision and the use of robust risk assessments and safety checks. Where possible and appropriate, we plan and encourage play that helps children understand and manage risks. This type of play allows children to explore and find their own boundaries in a safe environment with supportive early learning and childcare practitioners. Staff are informed of the importance of safety procedures and are trained appropriately to ensure these procedures are followed effectively.

We obtain parental permission before any child starts the nursery to enable staff to take them out for walks within the local area.

We plan all outdoor play opportunities and outings to complement the indoor activities and provide children with purposeful activities that support and follow individual children’s interests. There is a balance of both adult-led and child-initiated opportunities to enable children to learn and practice new skills, knowledge, and behaviours.

We are passionate about children’s ability to play and have fun while also learning and developing in the outdoors so wholeheartedly embrace. “My World Outdoors” and “Out to Play” which are guidance from Education Scotland and the Care Inspector. They are highlighting the importance of outdoor play in children’s early years and provide practical guidance and advice for early learning and childcare settings and practitioners on how to access outdoor spaces, including land or forest areas owned by local authorities, private landowners or national bodies to create safe, nurturing and inspiring outdoor learning experiences.

Both “My World Outdoors” and “Out to Play” resources are filled with research findings, examples of good practice, further reading and lots of sources of information helping The University of Dundee Day Nursery Ltd use outdoor play to enhance the wellbeing and overall growth of children.

As well as laying out statistics and points showing how beneficial it is for children to have access to stimulating outdoor activities, “My World Outdoors’” and “Out to Play” help to calm many anxieties shared by both parents and day care workers.  Highlighted is the fact that risk is essential to a child’s development and encouraging youngsters to explore things through trial and error will build coping strategies and resilience. 

The University of Dundee Nursery Ltd uses Forest School philosophy which is a Scandinavian concept where the outdoors is used as an area for learning. Many of the learning experiences evolve from the children’s interests and ideas, and the natural materials found in the outdoors rather than paper, pencils and worksheets.

Forest School offers an outdoor classroom where the rules are minimal and easy to understand. There is no right or wrong, learning is life-long and there is risk-taking within a controlled environment. Children learn and understand how to avoid accidents. Children are encouraged to move away from adult interaction and to become more responsible for themselves each and other.

Forest School is about using the outdoors to promote confidence, self-esteem and independence. At The University of Dundee Nursery Ltd we are passionate about developing the whole child, not just their academic ability. The benefits of Forest School impact all areas of a child’s life:, Confidence, behaviour, concentration, independence, social, emotional and physical skills are all developed with positive.

Also, Forest School is about exploring and experiencing the natural world through practical learning experiences. The children go out in all weathers, all year round, exploring and learning from the seasons and environmental changes. The children’s interests along with the varied natural resources in our garden are used to stimulate creative thinking, problem solving and skill development, all in the guise of play.

We recognise that in order to learn you have to engage and participate. For many children this engagement comes easily. However, some children find it really difficult, these children often lack confidence and have low self-esteem.

Many of our children live safe, comfortable, and organised lives. Whilst this can be considered commendable it provides little opportunity for them to test themselves, to explore the unknown and to find out what they are truly capable of. We believe Forest School activities have a major part to play in addressing this.

Forest School builds on a child’s innate motivation and positive attitude to learning, offering them the opportunities to take risks, make choices and initiate learning for themselves. Our outdoor environment is very important to us as a setting. It is an invaluable resource that we use on a daily basis for play and learning.

At The University of Dundee Day Nursery Ltd we believe that:

• Outdoor play is central to young children’s learning.
• Indoors and outdoors is viewed as one combined and integrated environment.
• Outdoors is both a teaching and learning environment, where adults interact with children to extend their knowledge, skills, and concepts.
• Outdoor design and layout is given careful consideration.
• The outdoor classroom offers children the opportunity to use effective styles of learning – playing, movement and sensory experience.
• Children are given a wide range of open-ended equipment and environments.
• Children can control, change and modify their environment.

These are the key principles that underpin effective outdoor play.

Each of the Curriculum for Excellence subjects are developed through Outdoor Play.

Developing personal, social and emotional learning

• The resources and experiences outside provide opportunities for children to develop co-operation and build relationships
• Children are encouraged to work together, take turns, and help each other.
• Children are encouraged to take responsibility for the resources in the outside area. They are able to set up the areas and tidy resources away.
• Room Seniors, Early Years Practitioners, and management team of supports children in initiating a developing their own ideas and interests indoors and outdoors.
• Children are encouraged to develop a sense of wonder about living things and natural phenomena.
• Children develop their understanding and show respect for living things and life cycles.
• The resources and experiences outside provide opportunities for children to act out their feelings

Developing language and literacy

• There are wide range of stimulating first-hand experiences for children and adults to talk about.
• There are places for children to talk to each other.
• Reading and writing are incorporated into learning experiences. They are relevant and meaningful to children’s interests and patterns of learning.
• Children are encouraged to use the written word or write for a range of purpose e.g. signs, messages, tickets. Non-fiction books are a stimulus for investigations outdoors.
• Stories are told/read/re-enacted outside.
• Children are encouraged to express their ideas and interests through role play.

Developing mathematical learning

• Children are encouraged to explore patterns, shape, measurement and number in the natural and man-made world. There are resources to support this range of learning.
• The available resources enable children to solve mathematical problems.
• Staff encourage children to develop and use their mathematical language.
• The range of equipment enables children to work on a large scale.
• Children are encouraged to play mathematical games with large equipment.
• Numbers are incorporated into children’s play.
• Children are encouraged to write numbers or record mathematical ideas in relevant and appropriate ways.

Developing knowledge and understanding of the world

• Children are encouraged to observe and express their ideas about similarities and differences in the natural word.
• Children are encouraged to explore the physical environment and are able to solve problems in their own way.
• Changes in the weather are used to stimulate investigative work.
• There is a wide range of natural and manmade materials for children and adults to talk about.
• There is a sufficient range of resources to develop children’s interest in movement.
• Children are able to use a range of natural and manmade materials to design, make and build.

The outside area is organised so that children are provided with opportunities to play out their life experiences and to develop imaginative play.

• Staff support and develop children’s imaginative play related to life experience
• Staff ensure that all children have access to a wide range of resources and experiences.

Developing physical development

• The planning of equipment in the outdoor classroom takes into account all stages of children’s physical development.
• There is a good range of equipment to develop children’s co-ordination and control skills.
• The resources and equipment encourage a variety of ways of using the body.
• The children are presented with challenges that enable them to discover what they are able to do whilst learning about the limitations of their bodies.
• Children are able to experience a variety material that vary in size and encourage to use them in a variety of ways.
• Children are encouraged to use their bodies imaginatively e.g. dance, music a movement.
• Staff ensure that boys and girls have equal access to all areas of physical learning.

Developing creative learning

• Children are encouraged to represent their ideas imaginatively. There are a range of materials so that they can create 2D and 3D images.
• Children are encouraged to explore colour, shape, and texture within natural materials.
• Staff plan for music, movement, dance, singing and drama to take place in the outside area.
• Children have the opportunity to experience a large range of textures and different materials.
• Opportunities are provided for children to develop large-scale work.
• Appropriate resources are available to support large-scale mark making.

It is a parents’ responsibility to ensure their children have appropriate clothing for the weather every day of attendance.

Document information