Sunrise Nursery in Winsford, Cheshire, has transformed its outdoor space after securing grants worth £18,000 and consulting the children about what they wanted from the area.
The 60-place nursery, within Wharton Children's Centre and run by Overhall Community Enterprises, had an undeveloped garden and wide open spaces that left children free to bomb around uninterrupted on bikes which left the area feeling unwelcome.
Nursery staff started making plans for the space while they were involved in a communication, language and literacy (CLLD) project, in which they were asked to assess how CLLD could be promoted outdoors.
They went on to consult the children about what they wanted in the garden and designed it with the help of centre pedagogue Sue Jones and Greenerspaces Ltd (see box).
Grant money was obtained from Cheshire County Council (for Quality Improvement and Access and Inclusion), Weavervale Housing Trust, Ernest Cook and HBOS. Parents also collected coupons from Morrison's supermarket to buy its 'Let's Grow' pack, which included a greenhouse, water butt, recycling bin and seeds.
Every part of the area is now put to good use. Even the tiny 'veranda' where the shutters come down has been turned from just a storage area to an area that supports small-world play, mark-making and a workbench.
Manager Sarah Lowry says, 'Our main focus was to include every child and make each of them feel secure and happy. We've tried to make things as child-friendly, as natural and as open-ended as possible.'
The redesigned area has also encouraged staff to reflect and develop their practice. Ms Lowry says, 'We took the decision to let children play a more active part in all nursery activities, and with this in mind we planned half-day camping trips to our local common' (see box).
More information: Greenerspaces, tel: 07814 834554
CONSULTING WITH CHILDREN
'What emerged from the consultation was that the children wanted a beach,' says Sunrise Nursery's manager Sarah Lowry. 'They wanted water like the sea and a sand pit big enough to get in.'
Their recorded comments included:
- 'My like playing in the sand at the beach'
- 'And we go in the water'
- 'I not got no sand'
And among their requests were:
- 'A big massive sand up to the sky and water'
- 'More watering cans'
- 'Sand castles buckets'
- 'We need lots of watering cans, one for Chloe and one for Thomas'
- 'I want water now it's in the toilet'
CAMPING
'We wanted to do something special for our pre-schoolers before they started school - to take them on an adventure where they set their own course and agenda - and so we bought a cheap two-man tent and headed for Winsford Common,' says manager Sarah Lowry.
'In all, we had four half-day trips. Beforehand, we carried out a risk assessment, talked to the children about what would happen and made bug catchers.
'On the day, the children pitched the tent, hammered in the nails, had a BBQ - we cooked the chicken and sausages beforehand, just in case - and decided on where to go for a walk and what to do.
'The staff were there to assess risk without intervening and to assist without interfering in any shape or form. We caught bugs and frogs, went for walks and one little boy made a catapult.
'It was amazing what they did because we had confidence in them. We wanted to prove to parents that their children are capable of doing so much more than they think.
'At the end of it, we had tired children, excited children, happy children. We'd definitely do it again.'
1. Sand and water play: The 'beach' so longed for by the children. Positioned near the baby room, the nursery's youngest can crawl outdoors and into the sandpit with ease. Water from a hand pump runs down into this paved area, then soaks away.
2. Raised beds: Keen that the children learn about where their food comes from, the nursery transformed a boggy area into one with decking and raised beds. A vine, which has already produced grapes, will grow up the tall wooden frame provided. There are also apple, plum and pear trees and the children have already grown strawberries, blackcurrants and blackberries.
3. The stage: The pagoda was revamped to become a stage. The metallic back is magnetic, enabling children to attach backdrops for their performances.
4. The pond: The wildlife area, in what was the boggiest part of the nursery grounds, includes a pond. Its specially designed and secure cover features a catfish.
5. Climbing frame and slide: Artificial grass has replaced the bark chippings, which were difficult for very young and disabled children to walk on. The net overhead offers some shade, but its primary purpose is as an 'art gallery' - laminated examples of children's work are hung from it.
6. A quiet retreat: Children can escape the hubbub on this wooden platform, stocked with books, plastic cushions and a tape recorder (positioned in the planting to offer mood music).
