8.18 Outdoor Play Policy |
This is a new policy - January 2011. Outdoor play is important in promoting good physical health, when appropriate care taken to protect children. It should be read in its entirety.
Opportunities for indoor and outdoor play are crucial to providing the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum for children from birth to five years.
Fresh air and exercise are important factors in promoting good physical health. Outdoor play will be encouraged in all weathers, with the appropriate care taken to protect children.
The safety of children accessing this area is crucial, a full risk assessment will be carried out and reviewed regularly* (Bi monthly/3monthly)
Prior to any child accessing the outdoor area a member of staff will complete a full 'daily check' of the area and all the equipment and remove any potential hazards. Although the principles of continuous outside play will be adopted, the safety and wellbeing of children will always be prioritised and outside play may be temporarily restricted if this compromises children's safety.
If doors are "wedged open" this needs to be secure to minimise accidents with children trying to open/close the doors.
When children are independently free flowing from indoors to outdoors health & safety must be considered as a priority.
Children must be supervised at all times
A minimum of two staff will be outside at any one time.
Should a child have an accident then contingency plans must be in place highlighting what to do in this case.
Due to the children independently accessing the outdoor space staff need to be vigilant and have a system in place that will ensure the children's whereabouts at all times. A register of all children playing outside will be held by the most senior responsible member of staff who is supervising children. In circumstances where no nursery officer is available, this responsibility will be delegated to a nominated nursery assistant with support from the member of staff in charge of the nursery at that time where appropriate. At the end of any sessions staff must perform a head count against the register and check all the areas before returning indoors.
A fire plan should outline a route to the fire collection point should a fire break out in nursery whilst children are outside playing, if the normal egress would be through nursery. If an alternative route is not available, an alternative safe collection point should be identified
A varied play experience will be provided outdoors as well as indoors.
To enable children to fully experience play opportunities offered parents are requested not to send children to nursery in expensive clothing that could restrict play opportunities that children are able to participate in.
The following factors that will be taken into consideration in different weather conditions:
Hot weather
- Children will be encouraged to play outdoors, however a risk assessment will be taken to determine if in the interest of children's safety outdoor play may be restricted at the hottest parts of the day.
- Shade will be provided in the outdoor area.
- Children will be encouraged to drink water regularly.
- Children will wear sun hats and sun cream will be applied before children play out in hot weather.
- Staff will apply sun cream* to children no less than 30 minutes prior to going outside. (a parent/carer consent form will need to be completed & signed prior to sun cream been applied) Refer to applying sun cream policy.
Wet weather
- Suitable waterproof clothing will be provided to enable children to be able to experience splashing in puddles, playing in the rain or snow.
Cold weather
- Children will be dressed appropriately with coats, hats and gloves before playing out.
- Where possible the nursery will try to build up a spare bank of additional clothing that can be used in emergencies to enable the children to continue to access the outdoors.
Staff Ratios
- At all times, staff : child ratios (both inside and outside) should be maintained within Ofsted guidance. A risk assessment should be undertaken and a contingency plan developed to ensure children's safety should ratio's change in the event of unforeseen incidents.
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