St Joseph’s Primary School
A Catholic Voluntary Academy
Lidgett Lane, Dinnington
Policy for
Outdoor Play
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School we understand the importance of play in the
foundation stage to enhance the child’s learning, this includes outdoor play. This policy aims
to explain what outdoor play is and why it is an important part of your child’s learning and
development.
What do we mean by Outdoor Play?
Outdoor play is any type of play that happens outside. This includes playing and exploring
the natural world such as the weather, animals, insects, mud, grass and concrete.
Why is Outdoor Play important?
Outdoor play is crucial for the Prime areas of learning, which are communication and
language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. Through
these prime areas children can develop their natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
(EYFS framework, 2014)
As part of the Physical Development aspect of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum,
by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage the children are working towards meeting
the following Early Learning Goals:
ELG 04 Moving and handling: pupils show good control and co-ordination in large and small
movements. They move confidently in a range of ways, safely negotiating space. They
handle equipment and tools effectively, including pencils for writing.
ELG 05 Health and self-care: pupils know the importance for good health of physical
exercise, and a healthy diet, and talk about ways to keep healthy and safe. They manage
their own basic hygiene and personal needs successfully, including dressing and going to the
toilet independently.
(EYFS handbook, 2016)
Other aspects of learning are also covered in outdoor play such as developing an
understanding of the world around them, socially interacting with others and developing
their creativity and imagination.
When learning outdoors the children are also developing the characteristics of effective
learning.
The three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:
• playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’;
• active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and
enjoy achievements; and
• creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links
between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
(EYFS framework, 2014).
All children must have access to a rich outdoor learning environment during the continuous
provision period, in order to enable them to work towards attaining the Early Learning
Goals.
Outdoor play is particularly important for children who are more active as they are able to
show their talents through a variety of ways and skills. (EYFS handbook, 2016) As a school
we must ensure that all children are fully ready for their next steps and opportunities in
learning by having hands on experiences at an early age. (EYFS framework, 2014)
How do we facilitate outdoor Play at St Joseph’s?
In the Foundation Stage the doors are open for children to explore inside and outside as
part of their learning. Outside we have a sand pit, water tray, clipboards and paper with
pencils, chalk, a play house, bikes, space hoppers, a digging pit, den building and a mud
kitchen. All of these activities promote the children’s physical development and their social
development.
Aprons and wellington boots will be available to protect the children’s uniform when playing
in the mud, although it is not the schools responsibility to keep uniform clean.
All children will be made aware of the importance of hand washing after playing outside.
Staff will support the children’s outdoor play by ensuring the learning environment is risk
assessed and appropriate ratios are maintained during continuous provision.
How can parents and carers help?
Parents and carers can support the children’s outdoor play by providing suitable clothing for
the weather for example; warm coats, hats, wellington boots, sun cream applied before the
school day and sun hats.
We also appreciate donations of compost, gardening equipment, pots and pans, buckets
and spades, chalk and fabric.