Early childhood education, plays an important role in shaping a child’s development. Outdoor play spaces, in particular, provide young children with invaluable opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and sensory exploration. Recognizing the importance of this, Waterloo Primary School got in touch with us to totally transform their existing nursery area (Stroll down to the bottom to see an impressive before & after), that lacked the stimulation and features needed into a more dynamic, educational, and engaging environment for all of the children and staff to enjoy!
One of the biggest changes that was made was resurfacing the whole area with our high qualityArtificial Grass surfacing that now allows for children to utilise the whole space throughout the elements alongside the installed Fully Enclosed Canopywhich acts as an additional learning or play space. Our fully enclosed canopies are made using high quality pressure treated tanalised timber and are bespoke made which means that you can really customise the space to your preferrance and what you intend the area to be used for. Features include: Polycarbinate Roof, Full cladded sides, 4 windows, a mounted chalkboard and dry wipe and aResource Sheds.throughout the area for storing all those learning resources!
Messy role play is beneficial to a child's development so we added a Mud Kitchen 3,Mud Table, twoplanters, and also a Double Sandbox with Pulley and Water Pump to create a space for children to target their fine motor skills through messy sensory play and navigate through touching, pressing, gripping, grabbing, squeezing, squashing and in this case to bake some deliciously disgusting mud pies.
Our Role Play Cabin features a mounted chalkboard, provides shelter, has interior seating and can be turned into anything from a farm shop, cafe, stage and more by using imagination and creativity.
For an element of physical play and extra fun, our Create-a-Trail Blocks are perfect for encouraging active play as children jump, step & climb their way around them whilst building their gross motor skills as they go. They are all moveable and the hand holes on the sides make is easy to lift and reposition the blocks into any layout so the children can create their own custom obstacle course.
Outdoor play helps to encourage children to let their imaginations run wild in a lot of ways as they use and play on the items and in the various areas throughout the playground. May that be creating role play scenarios with their classmates or creating mud pies in the mud kitchen / mud box.
May it be by reading and learning with friends under the canopy or helping each other make there way around the trial blocks together or simply just making up their own pretend play... Being outside on the playground helps to inspire children to move outside their comfort zones whilst strengthening their social development and communication skills as they go.
Navigating to and from each of the items, balancing and jumping around the Create-A-Trial Blocks all require children to develop their balance and coordination skills.
By engaging in anything that involves moving throughout the same and with sand, water & mud play elements within this space, children can enhance their muscle development, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sensory exploration.
Playing and learning outdoors in the fresh air, reduces stress and anxiety whilst promoting socialisation and sensory processing for children.
