Favours Day Nursery Ltd Policy and Procedure
23 Play
At Favours Day Nursery and Out of School Club, we commit ourselves to provide freely chosen play
opportunities for all children and young people.
Play is personally directed and intrinsically motivated for no goal or reward. This means that all
children and young people choose themselves when, how and what to play. They decide the rules
and roles they take in play. Play is important to all children and young people’s development and
promotes physical, social, mental and emotional and creative skills. It enables children and young
people to self direct their learning and benefits their cognitive and intellectual development. It also
allows them to engage in challenges. Children need regular access to outdoor play in order to
develop their large and small muscles, experience an environment that is different to the inside of the
nursery and more importantly access sunlight in order to absorb vitamin D more effectively.
Through play in a secure environment, with effective adult support, children can:
 Explore, develop and represent learning experiences that help them make sense of the world.
 Practice and build up ideas, concepts and skills.
 Learn how to control impulses and understand the need for rules.
 Be alone, be alongside others or cooperate as they talk or rehearse their feeling’s
 Take risks and make mistakes.
 Think creatively and imaginatively.
 Communicate with others as they investigate or solve problems.
 Express fears or relive anxious experiences in a controlled and safe environment.
We are committed to the importance of daily outdoor play and physical development in all children
regardless of age and stage of development:
 All activities will be made accessible to children with learning difficulties and disabilities to
ensure all children are able to freely and independently use the outdoor area and physical
play opportunities to best effect.
 We will provide a carefully planned environment, providing opportunities for ‘risk taking’ this
helps all children to find out about themselves and their capabilities.
 We give children the opportunity to play outside throughout the year, in all kinds of different
weather and this is as important as playing inside. Nearly everything that is provided inside
can also be provided outside and some of the best learning can only happen outside.
 We aim to promote enthusiasm, enjoyment and confidence while developing each child’s
physical skills and abilities.
 The outdoor areas, both within the nursery grounds and in the local community have a wealth
of resources which help children to develop in a variety of ways, including independence,
exploration and investigative skills and self-esteem all of which support children to develop
skills for now and the future.
Staff will:
 Ensure all areas are safe and secure through close supervision and risk assessments.
 Ensure that all equipment is safely set up and stored appropriately.
 Ensure that gardens are safety checked every morning before the children go outside
 Observe key children and ensure that planning is child led.
 Extend and develop children’s language and communication in their play.
 Be active role models by interacting with and supporting children’s learning and planned play.
 Provide varied opportunities for supporting children to explore and extend their experiences.
 Wear appropriate clothing for outdoor play and advise parents and carers on clothing suitable
for outdoor learning.
September 2013
Updated September 2015
A. Thompson