The walls are bright with children's work, the book corner is fully stocked and children are playing happily in the water tray. The interior of your setting is really starting to do credit to the hard work of staff, parents and children. Wouldn't you like to be able to say the same thing about the outside space in your setting? If your quest to create a continuous learning environment has hit a bit of a snag as you head outdoors, read on!
The rapid physical, emotional, social and intellectual development of young children is enhanced by access to creative learning opportunities both indoors and out. There are many ways to develop your outdoor space into a rich learning environment, that supports a wide range of play experiences. All six areas of learning within the Foundation Stage curriculum can be pursued outdoors, and in addition, the improvement of the outdoors can also offer parents a chance to make a significant contribution to their children's learning and play, through fundraising, practical projects and the ongoing care of the space.
The outdoor environment presents unique opportunities for learning that cannot be replicated indoors, and the significance of these to children's development is now underlined by the curriculum documentation from the DfES and the Scottish Office.
Getting started
No matter what your outdoor space looks like now, it is possible to make a spectacular transformation. The trick is to plan carefully and make your targets achievable. Learning through Landscapes, the national school grounds charity, recommends following a process of change tried and tested by schools and nurseries throughout the UK over the past 25 years. This is intended to help make change in the grounds manageable and fun by breaking it down into a step-by-step process. There are eight stages, from 'sharing the concept' through to monitoring and evaluating the changes you've made, and celebrating your success. The first three stages will help you with your 'first steps outside'.
1 Let everyone know
The key to success is getting everyone involved from the start. Research by Learning Through Landscapes has shown that the most successful and sustainable projects are ones in which every member of the setting's community has had the opportunity to take part. Even the very youngest children can be involved. All it takes is creative thinking and a range of fun ways to express their ideas.
Instant makeovers, TV-style, might seem like a great way to transform the nursery garden. But in reality, a careful examination of what you have, and what you hope to be able to do there, will ensure everyone's hard work results in something really worth having. It's also important to make sure the changes you make can be cared for in the long term; proper planning and shared responsibility will contribute to this.
With this in mind, the first step is to identify who will be able to help you and let them know that you intend to undertake an improvement project in the garden. Here are some ideas on who to involve, and how.
* Children: during circle time, discuss the nursery garden. What do children like about the garden? What do they like to do in their gardens at home or at the park? Would they like to help make the nursery garden better, more fun? Be able to go out and play whenever they like, whatever the weather?
Alison Clarke's excellent book, The Mosaic Approach (National Children's Bureau, 11.95, tel: 020 7843 6028) describes ways of encouraging participation in very young children. Jenny Mosley's Circle Time techniques will also be of great help.
* Staff: discuss the project during a staff meeting. What might your objectives be for improving the outdoors? Who could get involved? Will you need to do some fundraising? How will better access and better facilities in the garden support the six areas of learning of the Foundation Stage?
* Parents: arrange a meeting for parents to introduce them to the idea of improving the garden. Ask for volunteers to support. Many settings report enthusiasm from parents as a key driving force behind their project, with parents sharing skills such as gardening and building for the benefit of all the children.
* Consider informing other settings in your locality - they might have valuable advice or experience, and may even want to work with you. It's important that your LEA or EYCDP know that you are intending to make improvements - you may need to get permission to make physical changes to the grounds.
2 Gather a team
A small team of committed individuals will lend purpose to your work in the garden. Children may be too young to take part in the group, but let them know that it exists by talking about what the group will do and how children will be involved in other tasks. Staff, parents, the caretaker, governors, and perhaps a member of the EYCDP are all potential team members. The team doesn't need to be large, but there are some roles that should be allocated in order to manage the project effectively.
* Fundraising and contacting local businesses for help.
* Developing activities to allow children to participate in the project.
* Treasurer - the person bringing funds in doesn't have to be the one allocating them!
* Publicising the project to parents, the local community and other settings.
The group may not need to meet often, but there are bound to be times when everyone is needed to lend a hand. Involving a variety of people will ensure that there is always someone able to answer questions or chase up ideas.
3 Investigate your site
Before thinking about making changes, you need to find out just what you already have and how you are using the space now. The information you gather will help highlight problem areas, and opportunities to better use what you already have. Issues to focus on include:
* Existing features: for example, trees, shrubs, play equipment, fences and walls, buildings, pathways.
* Is there any shade or shelter?
* The effects of weather, such as puddles, or windy areas.
The physical features of the garden are not the only things to investigate.
To get a full picture, have a look at how the space is used now. This is where the children become your best source of information - they are the nursery garden 'experts'. Children use the space the most and despite their age, they will have very clear opinions. Some questions to ask include:
* Where is your favourite place? Which places don't you like? Why?
* Where is the sunniest place in the garden?
* What's your favourite toy in the garden?
* Who do you like to play with?
Ask the children to run a 'tour' of the garden, showing off all the important 'landmarks', such as the place they like to drink their juice, the best view of the next door school, the shadiest tree, or the best place to park wheelie toys.
Quick changes
There are plenty of things you can do to make quick, but significant improvements to outdoor provision, and not all of them require large funds.
* Provide chalks for pavement art, or attach a large chalkboard to a fence or wall, as Didsbury Primary School in Manchester has done in the playground. Their chalks are kept nice and dry in a munitions box!
* At Wingate Nursery in County Durham, children play out in all weathers by helping themselves to wellies and a rain suit from the supply by the garden doors.
* Parents and staff at Normand Park Primary in London donated plants in weird and wonderful pots, to allow children to change the layout of their garden each day.
* A picnic blanket with a waterproof backing extends the amount of time children at Coombes Infant in Berkshire are able to be outdoors.
* Staff at Le Cateau Nursery in North Yorkshire rigged up a washing line and attached painted pots, pans and wooden spoons to it, making an instant musical instrument.
* Shells collected from the beach are used to make fabulous artworks in the playground at Palatine Special School in Worthing.
So start collecting pictures from magazines to generate ideas for your own garden. And arrange a date for your first nursery garden project meeting with parents and staff!
Taking it further...
If you're inspired to get started on your own outdoor area, here are some useful resources and ideas:
* Enter the Nursery World competition over the page to win 2,500 of equipment, materials and support to kick start your nursery garden project.
* Call Learning Through Landscapes, the national school grounds charity, to find out how they can support your work outdoors (01962 845811 or www.ltl.org.uk). The School Grounds Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to the process of change.
* Read Marjorie Ouvry's book Exercising Muscles and Minds (9.50 from NEYN on 020 7607 9573)