The Government has launched a consultation on how it can help nurseries make better use of outdoor space for play and learning.

The consultation will look at whether to allow early years providers to include high-quality, accessible, and safe outdoor space in meeting government requirements on how many children settings can take on at any one time.

Currently the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework only recognises indoor space under these requirements, although forest schools and other ‘exclusively (or almost exclusively) outdoor provision’ are not required to meet the space standards as long as children’s needs can be met.

In response to the November 2023 Pulse Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers, one of the barriers identified by providers to expanding their childcare provision was the indoor floor space requirements set out in the EYFS.

Seven in 10 providers say they would make better use of their outdoor space if more flexibility was introduced.

This consultation is an important opportunity to challenge this persistent bias toward indoor provision in early years policy

The consultation will also seek to understand the appropriate conditions to be put in place should space requirements include gardens and play areas as a full part of the early learning experience for the youngest children.

Lydia Hopper, chief executive of nursery group, Grandir UK, said: “We are supportive of the inclusion of free-flow outdoor space within the EYFS space requirements.

“At Grandir UK, we’ve actively champion free-flow outdoor play – it’s a big part of how we support children’s learning and development.

“We draw inspiration from Forest School principles, helping children explore nature and learn through play in the fresh air.”

Chloe Barnes, operations manager at Outdoor Owls nursery group, added: “This consultation is an important opportunity to challenge this persistent bias toward indoor provision in early years policy.

“Outdoor spaces are too often seen as secondary or supplementary when in fact they are rich environments in their own right and could support nurseries to offer more spaces to families who currently can’t access local providers.”

She added: “As we show everyday there is nothing that can’t be done outdoors, with the right equipment.

“We’d love to see the consultation encourage traditionally indoor based settings to explore and invest in the outdoor spaces they already have to support what could be possible for educating children outdoors.”

Outdoor spaces are too often seen as secondary or supplementary when in fact they are rich environments in their own right and could support nurseries to offer more spaces to families who currently can’t access local providers

And Purnima Tanuku, executive chair of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), welcomed the consultation, but called for an additional review of indoor space requirements.

She said: “Consulting on the use of outdoor space is a positive step that recognises changes in research and best practice about how children can learn and develop in the outdoor environment.

“It will be important to ensure that this approach is based on best practice and what is best for children.

“There is also a need to review the indoor space requirements because no-one knows how they were defined and have not been reviewed in living memory.”

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said there were also concerns over the risk of overcrowding in settings.

He said: “While we recognise that some settings may welcome the additional flexibility that would be created by this change, we remain concerned about the impact that such a policy could have on the quality of provision – and in particular, the risk that these reforms could result in overcrowding in some settings if the implementation, assuming these proposals go ahead, is not properly monitored.”

Consulting on the use of outdoor space is a positive step that recognises changes in research and best practice about how children can learn and develop in the outdoor environment

He added: “We’re clear that ensuring the safety and wellbeing of young children must always be at the heart of early years education and care.

“And yet, as we get closer to the final stage of the entitlement expansion, it appears that the need to create new places is constantly being prioritised over and above the need to ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality early years provision.”