Hungerford Nursery School, Berkshire
'We were able to make radical changes, to our outdoor area because we had a new building two years ago,' says head teacher, Jane Simons. 'The architect incorporated all our ideas into the plans for the whole nursery.'
Jane and her team had a very clear idea of what they wanted after three members of staff visited Norway to look at outdoor learning there. 'They came back with plenty of ideas and designs for a climbing frame specifically to challenge upper body strength, and a massive sand pit with room to accommodate things like tyres, and large role-play equipment. We also have a boat and a slide, two large pillars with ropes between them to make rope walks. Then there's the gazebo, in which the children had a real input, helping to mix the cement.'
The area, which Jane says is a bit larger than average, also features a ball area, tunnels and a garden where the children grow vegetables.
They are also fortunate in having the use of a neighbouring field and there is a canal and marshland just a short walk away. 'Our curriculum planning always looks at the learning outcomes outside first,' Jane explains. 'The children are out of doors for a minimum of an hour-and-a-half session each day, whatever the weather, and all day on Fridays.'
BEST BUY Large, square plastic storage units, that cost about 100 each from homeware stores or garden centres. These open at the front and allow the children easy access to resources.
Boscombe Neighbourhood Nursery, Bournemouth
Hand Made Places has transformed a tarmac area with limited play equipment and a 'rather sad' shelter into a stimulating playground, with features including a clatterbridge, parallel ropes, stepping stones at different heights, a double traverse wall, a wooden petrol pump, a boat with a canopy sail, an octopus xylophone and wind chimes.
Gillian Glutz, planning and development officer for Bournemouth Children and Family Services, says they chose Hand Made Places because of their helpfulness. 'Other companies were quite dismissive, perhaps because we have a very average-sized site. This company was the only one that came along to the site before quoting. They were ready to answer all our questions and tolerated us when we kept changing our minds about what we wanted. The installation took five days to complete and in all, we spent 36,000, which compared very favourably with other quotes.'
The garden is still work in progress, with sensory plants, bird feeders, a compost bin and a roadway for the children to ride their bikes to come soon, and a mural is also planned.
BEST BUY The boat, which can be used as a study centre and outdoor classroom. Prices on application from Hand Made Places, 01420 474111, www.handmadeplaces.co.uk
Squirrels Day Nursery, Crowthorne, Berkshire
Late last year Timberline installed a large play structure in the grounds of Squirrels Day Nursery at a cost of around 7,000. 'As well as the physical play value - it encourages the children to move in different ways - we use it for role play and story support and it is always part of our planning,' says deputy manager, Julie Stretton. 'We have four decent periods of time out of doors every day during the winter and much more at other times of the year.'
The structure, which was installed in one day, features a climbing frame, two towers, a bridge, slide, scramble net, a fireman's pole and lots of cubby holes. There is also a pirate ship and a playhouse. 'There are so many aspects and it never looks crowded however many children are using it.'
BEST BUY 'I think our favourite is the Pirate Ship which is very adaptable.' Prices on application from Timberline, tel: 0845 606 6475, www.timberline.co.uk
Nannas Neighbourhood Nursery, Colchester
A large, grassy dinosaur is the major feature at this nursery. 'We didn't want to separate the garden and create set boundaries between the babies and toddlers and the older children,' explains Carrie Smith, operations manager for the nursery chain. 'Once the little ones can manage to crawl over the dinosaur we feel they are ready to stay in the bigger garden.'
The nursery wanted the dinosaur to look as natural as possible to fit in with the garden setting. They used a local company that was able to complete it in about three weeks. The children helped with some of the digging and watered the turf to keep it moist when it was first laid. It incorporates a slide, two sand pits and some seating and the theme is continued with a trail of fossilised shells, courtesy of Colchester Museum, and six large 'dinosaur eggs' which come apart.
BEST BUY Large open blocks from Community Playthings. 'The things that the children do with them are unbelievable.' Pre-school Sets from 452.
Tel: 0800 387 457, www.communityplay.co.uk
Further information
* Learning Through Landscapes, tel: 01962 845811, www.ltl.org.uk
* The School Garden, tel: 0121 457 6653, www.theschoolgarden.com - provides packs of bulbs, seeds and pots and accessories for both nurseries and schools
* Creating a Space to Grow - Developing your outdoor learning environment by Gail Ryder-Richardson is a Learning Through Landscapes Publication (David Fulton)
RENDCOMB COLLEGE NURSERY, CIRCENCESTER
This nursery is lucky enough to have 260 acres of woodland five minutes walk away and the nursery has created a special area within it with 'invisible barriers' to contain the children. 'They go to the woodland at least three times a week in winter and far more often in summer,' says Sophie Langstaff, the nursery class teacher.
The children sit on tree trunks at circle time, under a canopy of army netting donated by the local barracks. They use items like cones and leaves for early maths and are encouraged to smell and touch everything they see.
The immediate play area outside the nursery building is small, but there is plenty to stimulate the children, including a supply of boomwhackers - 'pinched from the school music department' - and saucepans and wooden spoons for banging. A sensory area has been created by putting materials like felt, mirrors and pieces of cork in plastic soap holders on the wall.
BEST BUY Sophie prefers to use natural and recycled resources whenever possible. A parent is currently negotiating with a local farm to supply some pig huts (unused) which should be great for the children to hide in.'
