EYFS teachers - outdoor area

[PenguinFlip]

Are sand/water staples of an EYFS area? Or should they be abandoned because 1) we can provide it inside the classroom, 2) we have a Forest School, 3) the children get too wet 4) we have no coverings for the sand/water trays (but we will maybe next year).
Has EYFS guidance changed for outdoor areas : ie no sand/water - only ‘big’ things outside? I’m trying to find a good link to read.

I have both sand and water in my outside area and both are used all year round. Our sandpit only has a tuff tray to cover it and so far it has kept out any unwanted gifts. Even in the cold weather before Christmas, water was available as the children wanted to melt the ice and asked if they could use warm water. It was limited and the children were only out in 30 minute sessions but so much learning was undertaken in this time.
We use much larger equipment outside (guttering, buckets, stands) with the water. The children’s gross motor skills are working lots.

I have only just introduced an indoor sandpit and it isn’t allowed any water in it. The children are accessing it in a completely different way than they do outside. I have also saw noticed that different children are accessing the indoor sand than outside. We don’t have water inside.

We have weekly Forest School sessions and Outdoor Fridays (Forest School, local walks, general outdoor areas in school). If you have space for sand/water outside, I personally would. We ensure wellies are worn during water play and in the sand pit (if it’s wet) and if it’s a wet day the children have waterproof’s (tops and bottoms) in school so they are nice and dry. If they are really wet then the children have a spare change of clothing and get changed.

I can’t think of any links at the moment, but if I do, I’ll post them.

@JumperWearer

Thank you. That - to me - sounds exactly how it should be. We have a small outside area, and last term it was barely ever set up and not used. Reason being - it’s raining, too wet, the equipment is unsuitable, we have a long term plan to improve the area - and that pouring type activities can be provided inside the classroom. However - no sand/water is available inside the classroom either.
We had a meeting about it two days ago - and I decided to be pretty assertive and say : we need sand/water outside as staples. I was shot down and am still reeling from it a bit!!! I do want to be part of a team, but I’m beginning to think I should just set up sand/water area anyway - because I think it’s best for the children. Two children in particular sometimes really need to get away from the busy-ness of the classroom and find sand type play therapeutic - (although I ended up using soil in an unused planting bed - and rainwater that had collected in a wheelbarrow with them).

The upshot of the meeting was that the outdoor area should only be used for big things, it should set up itself, and no sand or water is needed out there as we can provide those inside (except we don’t - I haven’t seen a sand tray/pouring/buckets/water used at all).

I know the EYFS leader is keen to get me on a course, and possibly thinks my views are ‘old school’ - and I agree that I’ve been out of Early Years for a couple of years. But I’m trying to find what the new thinking is regarding outdoor areas/sand/water etc.

I’ve just ordered a bag of green sand, so it doesn’t look too ‘sandy’ - and I’m going to say that it’s ‘magic beans’. But this will go against what I’ve been told.

Also - there is no planning for the outdoor area. I want to suggest that we plan for it - but - I know what the answer will be!! That the area should set itself up, and no planning needed.

I agree that outside provision should be on a bigger scale than inside but that’s exactly what our sand and water is like in our outdoor area. Like the PP we have guttering, buckets and stands for the children to use in the water and the sand pit is far larger than anything we could provide inside. Like the PP, our children’s gross motor skills also get a good old workout outside!

I’m not sure what is so old school about your ideas. I’d say keeping the children inside because it’s wet or it’s snowing is far more ‘old fashioned’ - we get them out in all types of weather. We embrace it - wellies on and splash in the puddles if it’s raining for example. Also, same as PP, when it was snowing we just used the snow as part of our provision - stomped about in it, used it with pots and pans, made snowballs, made snowmen. We usually have free flow in/out all day but we did keep sessions shorter because it was so cold. We also left tuff trays outside all night with water in so they could freeze and the children could explore the ice.

With regards to planning, we don’t plan for outside because it sets itself up - we have all the equipment available for the children to access all the time just like inside but I have no idea why that means you can’t have water or sand outside. You should definitely have sand and water outside if it’s not available inside - they are staples and have so many learning opportunities.

@agirlcandream

I agree with you! We do have separate outdoor area where there is a larger sand pit - but it’s only timetabled in for a specific part of the day, and there is now a timetable change so that the majority of the children I work with don’t access it.

Its also thought that the wellies/all in ones are needed for sand/water type play - and they get this at Forest School one morning a week.

I really am trying to get my head round it. I’ve ALWAYS had sand/water as continuous provision - and it’s the idea that those skills can be provided/catered for elsewhere. That we shouldn’t even try as it will be to messy, the children will get too wet and we have unsuitable covers for our trays. And I’d say - I was in the minority opinion in the meeting (except 2 staff messaged me later saying they agreed - but didn’t want to say…). I really don’t want to create ‘bad feelings’ because we need to work as a team.

I’m lucky to have long periods of time for the children to initiate their own learning. I also have a brilliant Head who very much understanding learning through play and the benefits of this. We have free flow between inside and outside, which is amazing for my mixed Nursery/Reception class.

My Reception cohort is only boys this year and they need to be outside, a couple of them spend every minute possible outside in all weathers. Their best writing so far has been completed outside in chalk on the floor.

I also have a small outside area and it was only created over the summer so is very new to us; I don’t set up outside. The sand pit, tyres and a water tray are permanent but water is only added if it’s asked for. We have a small trolley with bowls, watering cans, cars, animals etc on and a shed for guttering, crates, buckets, brooms, large wooden blocks. More so in the dry months, we have writing buckets and clipboards ready for writing/mark making. The paints may also go outside.
The children access this independently and get things out as they want to.

I don’t really plan for the outside, however we may add enhancements as needed e.g., we’ve been trying to trap the Gingerbread Man this week so we’ve encouraged trap making.

You definitely need to try and keep the relationships positive with your team but I would still try and encourage outdoor learning and play. Adult reluctance to be outside is often a hindrance to this type of play. Could you offer to be the adult outside and model the positives? You could achieve high level writing/maths etc and showcase how this has happened (maybe a child who wouldn’t do the same inside?).

I’ve found these sites, that may be of use:
www.eyalliance.org.uk/benefits-outdoor-play-early-years
www.ivoryresearch.com/samples/literature-review-on-the-role-of-outdoor-play-in-childrens-learning/
www.communityplaythings.co.uk/learning-library/articles/outdoor-play-for-children

@PenguinFlip sand and water needs to offered both outside and in as the children develop different skills. Not to mention the fact some ( most ) children blossom outside.

Have you looked at Hygge in the early years ? They have an audit of areas booklet for a pound at moment.

In general Hygge in the early years has some good courses.

@JumperWearer
@Lemonsandlemonade

Thank you so much for taking the time to post, those links are incredibly useful.
I also emailed my local area Early Years advisor yesterday - and they confirmed that sand/water are staples.

I honestly don’t know how to approach this now without creating bad feelings.

The EYFS leader is new, and I can see that it’s very important that she leads without feeling undermined. At the beginning of last term a member of staff spoke out because she didn’t feel that the children should eat off the carpet - and should eat at a table. I agree - I think table is better as it prevents choking/better for hygiene. She was called into a meeting with other SLT members and told that she needs to be a team player, leaving her in tears. Then things settled - and we had a good term. The children are really well settled - and there is a lovely positive feeling. The EYFS leader is extremely supportive in so many other ways - but I’d say - not when challenged. I’m wondering if I speak to her first, and say I’ve read various articles - and cite some of your links? Outdoor play is one of my PDR targets - which is why I’m taking a particular interest.

I am slightly reeling from the meeting because I’d say I was ‘shut down’ - and then faced with other members of our team also challenging me. But I think their reasons for doing that were simply to back up the EYFS leader. I’m sure deep down they know that sand/water are staples too.

@PenguinFlip your head of EYFS sounds awful I mean part of being a manager is listening to staff whist taking management decisions.

I think approaching it as part of your PDR is a good idea especially when backed in research is a good idea.

I think sand and water should be offered indoors and out (small and large scale).
Indoors, offering funnels, scoops, little animals etc.
outdoors-larger shovels, wheelbarrows, pipes etc.
We do find providing it indoors tricky as our classroom is small and there’s only a tiny bit which isn’t carpeted!

It’s hard when you’ve got opposing ideas to the EYFS lead but you should have ownership of your own classroom too!

We have a sandpit and water tray outside and a smaller sandpit inside. I don't have water inside because there is no space for it and we would forever be mopping the floor. The children know if they want to play with water it's outside. We have a wooden playhouse outside that I set up for role play each half term. The role play inside is always the home corner. You use the space differently outside on a much larger scale so gross motor opportunities are maximised. Do you have bikes etc. outside?