Does your school have a dedicated outdoor play area for the early-year foundation stage (EYFS)? If not, why not!? At Schoolscapes UK, we pride ourselves on offering a wide range of outdoor playground equipment to schools and nurseries and helping them create a fun, educational and safe outdoor space for children to thrive and learn.
If you don’t currently have a dedicated outdoor play area for your EYFS or are looking to improve an existing EYFS playground, read on to find out what you should include.
Outdoor learning within EYFS is exactly what it says on the tin; a dedicated outdoor space designed specifically for children in the EYFS age range, to learn through play. Our team of playground designers will work closely with you to create a safe and enjoyable outdoor environment where children have the space and opportunity to experience a wide range of outdoor playground equipment.
With Schoolscapes UK, we work hard to ensure all of our playground design ideas and projects are well-thought-out, where children have the freedom to play, socialise and learn outside. No matter your playground budget, our expert designers will be able to create a high-quality, interactive and safe environment for children of all abilities.
Incorporating an outdoor learning environment in your EYFS area comes with a wide range of mental, physical and academic benefits for your pupils and students, including:
Not only does having a dedicated outdoor learning and play area at your primary or nursery school allow children to excel in various physical and social areas, but the Office for Standards In Education (Ofsted) requires all EYFS schools to have a dedicated outdoor play area.
When inspecting schools, Ofsted looks for the following requirements in outdoor play areas to reward schools with a higher rating:
Playgrounds should include various activities, from playground markings, sand and water play to sports and climbing activities. By covering a wide range of movements and activities in the EYFS outdoor play area, children will learn more about their surroundings and key skills that will stay with them throughout their lives.
Ofsted states that all outdoor playgrounds for EYFS, KS1, KS2 and secondary school students should contain resources where outdoor learning can be easily incorporated into the curriculum and teaching schedule.
Our activity panels, game top tables and range of stages can be included in any teaching or learning situation, for children to develop their academic and life skills knowledge outside of the classroom.
Literacy and numeracy skills are the building blocks of primary education. By creating a fun and engaging outdoor learning space in your EYFS playground, children can become more engaged when learning.
All EYFS outdoor play areas should encourage children to use their imagination and creativity to solve problems, create scenarios and interact with one another. Creative and imaginative play can be different for each child, but creating an environment which encourages the use of imagination is a fundamental part of a child’s cognitive development.
Ofsted believes that outdoor learning should be as effective as traditional classroom learning and that all schools should have a safe and comfortable environment where learning outside can be nurtured.
When designing your outdoor play area for EYFS, it is important to ensure your playground creates a fun, safe and engaging environment that children of all abilities can enjoy. Consider the following:
With over 25 years in the playground designing industry, at Schoolscapes UK, we have created and installed a wide range of EYFS play areas and have found the following products to be a fan favourite for schools across the country.
Having a dedicated storytelling area which includes a special storyteller’s chair can spark children’s imaginations, where they can create their own stories or as a space where teachers can teach or read to the class.
Stimulate children’s senses with sand and water play and encourage them to be creative and problem solves with our wide range of sand and water play products, from small water tables to large construction stations – sand and water play ignites children’s imaginations as well as develops their learning and understanding of the world.
EYFS children need to regularly develop and practise their physical skills and our range of little movers products have been designed to encourage children to increase their gross motor skills, physical fitness and coordination. All of the little movers’ range can be rearranged to constantly challenge and develop children’s skills.
Is your EYFS outdoor play area due for a redesign? See how our team of playground specialists can help design and transform your EYFS playground. No matter your location in the UK, our team is available to help you. Contact us today to organise your site visit at play@schoolscapesuk.com or call our helpful team on 01209 823181.
