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.
Hungary and Italy lead the way in space standards. In Hungary there must be 10m2 of outdoor space per child, while Italy's infant schools must provide 18m2 of space.
Jan White, senior development officer for Learning Through Landscapes, which works with early years settings on developing their outdoor space, said there was cause for concern. 'I would back an amendment to the current standards to make the provision of outdoor space a requirement,' she said.
'Children need to be outside because it offers them the freedom to be messy and noisy and play collaboratively.
'However, for many settings, especially in urban environments, this would be a great challenge. Rather than bringing in regulations overnight, there should be a system where settings would need to demonstrate how they are working towards providing space over time. Settings will need to find imaginative solutions to providing outdoor space. For example, one private nursery in Kent takes children across to a local park every day, and a community nursery in Sheffield has converted its rooftop.'
Bronwen Cohen, chief executive of Children in Scotland, called on Scotland to extend the existing regulations for school-based nurseries to all children's services. She said, 'It is a worrying trend that there are fewer requirements for outdoor space in the UK than previously. Children are spending more time in organised childcare and it is vitally important they have access to the outdoors.'
Issue 8 of Children in Europe, in which the study appears, can be ordered on www.childreninscotland.org.uk/cie.