This year's Outdoor Challenge received a record number of entries. More than 350 settings entered the Nursery World competition to win 4,000 of equipment and expert advice to transform their outdoor space.
The standard of entries was high, with many entrants showing how well they understood the importance of outdoor play and detailing exciting plans to develop their outside space. The judges eventually awarded the prize to Kathy Holmes, a registered childminder and manager of Acorn Childcare in Spalding, Lincolnshire.
Kathy bought the property with her husband five years ago. She was immediately attracted by the large, secluded garden, but the area was completely overgrown. Within a year, Kathy had cleared everything out and began developing a stimulating and challenging play area.
The garden now boasts a large decking area for al fresco eating and outdoor lessons and a pergola for quiet time. Children grow their own herbs in 'Herby's Garden' and they regularly harvest the plants to use in their art work, culinary activities or 'smelly bag games'.
Kathy's husband put his DIY skills to the test and built Rainbow Street, a series of six reversible panels featuring different shop fronts. The panels were inspired by the children and provide the ideal setting for role play.
However, there is one part of the garden left for development. Kathy describes the area, situated beneath a tall silver birch tree, as a 'desolate spot' where grass refuses to grow. She hopes to install a Hand Made Places play sculpture surrounded by bark chippings or a spongy surface.
But the final decisions will be made by the children. 'Every single development in the garden has been made in consultation with them,' says Kathy. 'When the garden is finished I hope parents will feel drawn to spending some down-time here with their children before they rush off to the next daily challenge.
'I also hope that we can share the garden with other childminders. We used to have a childminding network in Spalding but it folded a few years ago.
The first six months is always a challenging time for new childminders so it would be nice to start up a local mentoring programme and support system for them.'
Learning Through Landscapes, the national school grounds charity, will now visit Acorn Childcare to help Kathy plan the garden's development. Acorn Childcare also wins a 1,000 Hand Made Places play sculpture, Pounds 1,000 of equipment from NES Arnold, a year's membership of Early Years Outdoors, and a year's subscription to Nursery World.
Congratulations also go to the ten runners-up in the Outdoor Challenge, who each receive an NES Springy play bag worth 150 and a year's membership of Early Years Outdoors.
Woodhouse Primary School, Davyhulme, Manchester
Woodhouse's Foundation Stage children 'love spending time in the outdoor classroom come rain or shine', says FS leader Rebecca Brown. Five years ago, the school was damaged by a flood. Since then, staff and children have made plant and vegetable plots, a music area and a secret fairy ring.
Future plans include a compost bin and wormery, sensory and physical areas, mud/soil pit, art area and investigative area. Rebecca hopes parents will be able to sit there to discuss their child's day, forging relationships and increasing understanding of learning.
Little Fishes, Sheffield
Childminders did well in this year's competition, with Alison Cook's entry also standing out for its insights into the special nature of outdoor play.
Alison wants children to 'develop a deep understanding and respect for the world in which they live'. Her project to divide the outdoor area into different learning bays has so far included gardening, wildlife, physical and quiet reflective areas. Future plans involve a low treehouse, a pond and better storage that the children can access independently.
St Werburgh's Park Nursery School, Bristol
St Werburgh's is hoping to turn a disaster into a triumph after contaminated soil meant the school's whole garden - once a 'beautiful educational environment' - had to be removed. Plans to transform the blank canvas include a wooden 'trim trail', canvas sails to provide shade, a willow village, amphitheatre and stage, sensory garden with musical sculptures and water play area. 'The whole school community is desperate to restore the garden,' says outdoor resource co-ordinator Kathryn Hook.
Bowling Park Primary, Bradford
The Foundation Stage team at Bowling Park want to provide direct, continuous access to the outdoor environment for children in an area of social deprivation. They aim to include 'fun learning experiences which will... bring the TALK back inside', says nursery teacher Nancy Lees.
Staffing has been provided for this, as well as a play surface, playground markings and a canopy. Future plans include a slide and climbing area, play house, willow walk, herb area, chalk boards and all-weather clothing for the children.
Learningtree Childcare Centre, Preston
Learningtree cares mainly for the children of Preston College students up to the age of 11 years. An outdoors provision committee has been set up, children are growing flowers, herbs and vegetables, and resource boxes have been established. Senior nursery officer Samantha Clayton says the aim is to create four gardens for different age groups, providing all-weather clothing, shaded areas, textured pathways, and opportunities for role play, imaginative and physical play. Provision may be extended into an adjacent wooded area with a 'forest school' environment.
Heald Place Primary School, Rusholme, Manchester
Set in a deprived inner city area, Heald Place wants to create a 'peaceful, calm and free outdoor environment', says Foundation Stage co-ordinator Catherine Eardley. Children and families, many of whom are lone-parent families or refugees, will be involved throughout to raise self-esteem and a sense of belonging to the community. Ball, climbing and balancing, bike and natural areas have been established. Plans include murals, mirrors and chalk boards, somewhere for hide and seek, a bird table, better storage and large-scale water play.
Cargenbridge Nursery, Dumfries
Nursery teacher Rosemary Pegg wants a garden where 'children can learn in an environment that promotes a sense of wonder'. An area has been identified and a group of parents has offered to help. Staff have been on training sessions and visited other settings. The children's wish list includes blue and pink flowers, mud for tractors, digging for worms, round tubs, a swing, a bird box and rainbow steps.
Wilcombe Primary School, Tiverton, Devon
Creating an outdoor environment is an important part of developing a Foundation Unit for nursery teacher Louise Oxenham. So far, a covered area has been established outside the classrooms, along with a ramp and digging area. Prop boxes are being organised and a willow expert will visit.
Planned workshop areas include sand and gravel pits, fruit, vegetable and herb gardens, a conservation area, play house, hill and sculptures.
Manorfield Primary School, Stoney Stanton, Leicestershire
Manorfield gave lots of reasons for wanting to further develop its outdoor area - early years teacher Louise O'Shea adds, 'simply because it is so much fun!'. No decision is made until the children approve, and early stages have included a hopscotch grid, planting, gathering resources and organising the outdoor store cupboard. Children's 'challenging ideas'
include animal-shaped seating, a sandpit and painting the fence like a rainbow or with pictures of children playing.
Outdoor School, Southmead, Bristol
This unusual project is an outdoor school for children with emotional, behavioural and/or mental health difficulties, referred from four primary schools in the area. Leader Janice Filer now wants to improve the environment and extend the programme. Priorities are to obtain wet weather clothes and add pathways, a permanent fire base, seating, and a growing area with a compost heap, while keeping the area as natural as possible. NW