Nursery World - Outdoors: key 6

Continuing her series on harnessing the potential of the outdoors environment, Professor Jan White considers what materials and resources to provide for outside play

Settings should prioritise factors such as the resource’s play value and versatility

A number of core organisational issues make all the difference to how well outdoor provision works for everyone. Paying attention to these ‘12 Keys to Unlocking Learning Outdoors’ and working on them as a team will gradually unlock the wonderful potential of the outdoors. This article explores how to choose the ‘right stuff’ for children to work with outside.

KEY 6: MATERIALS AND RESOURCES FOR PLAY, AND HOW CHILDREN ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE THEM

Materials and resources:

WHY IS THIS ISSUE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE OUTDOORS?

Harnessing what the outdoors is capable of doing for young children’s wellbeing, learning and development through providing a wide range of holistic discovery and play opportunities requires careful thinking about the nature, range and quantity of materials, equipment, tools and other resources provided.

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