An analysis of outdoor space regulations in ten European countries, carried out by the journal Children in Europe, found a general trend away from legal requirements that children have access to outdoor areas.
School nurseries in England used to be required to provide a minimum of 9m2 of outdoor space per child, but now there are no national regulations.
Similarly, Scotland has no national regulations although local authority school nurseries must provide 9.3m2 per child.
Across Europe the situation varies widely. France and the Flemish-speaking regions of Belgium have no requirements. Denmark has removed its national requirements, which had been a minimum of 10m2 per child.
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