Outdoor Policy Sample
- Benefits: The benefits of physical activity and outdoor play should be listed. Provide the research that supports this. https://www.galwaychildcare.com/uploadedfiles/Outdoor_Play_Matters.pdf
- Philosophy: Does your center encourage mud and/or rain play? Will they children get dirty? Letting parents know your philosophy and your reasoning why upfront will alleviate possible future issues.
- Duration: Children should spend 60 to 120 minutes each day outdoors depending on their age and weather conditions. Policies should also describe what will be done to ensure active outdoor play on days with more extreme weather (examples: very hot, very cold, or thunderstorms).
- Weather – you may want to include guidelines on how you will respond to different weather conditions, i.e. guidance on clothing and protection in strong sun, wet weather and cold conditions.
- Water availability: Make sure drinking water is freely available, both indoors and outdoors, throughout the day.
- Setting: Covered areas for shade and shelter should be available outdoors.
- Clothing and footwear: Clothing should permit easy movement that enables children to participate fully in active play. Footwear should provide support for running, climbing and exploring.
- · Sunscreen: Children should be protected from the sun by using shade, sun-protective clothing, and “broad-spectrum” sunscreen with UVB-ray and UVA-ray protection of SPF 15 or higher, with permission from parents or guardians.
- Health & Safety procedures: this section could include details of risk assessment, accident procedures, ‘checking the grounds’ procedure, rules for safety and supporting behavior (in a positive context). Activity areas should be clear of sharp objects, trash, or other objects that could cause injury. Proper safety equipment should be used for the age of the children, for example, soft balls and bats should be used instead of hard balls and bats with younger children.
- Roles and responsibilities of adults – include brief details of how the practitioner will support and extend children’s play and learning outdoors. You may want to also include a brief list of duties outdoors, such as Health and Safety checks, updating diaries and observations, care of resources and equipment.
- Outings-this section can include the types of offsite learning opportunities provided, for example how you may use the local park and going further afield for specific outings. You may also want to refer to your charging policy and include details of ratios, first aid, transport, risk assessment and insurance as well as other details pertinent to your setting.
- Equality and inclusion-include here statements about how you will ensure all children, whatever their ability, have opportunities to play and explore outside. This should include:
- children of all abilities being able to access play outside
- boys and girls having equal opportunities to play outside
- how children will be monitored when using the outdoor area
- being mindful and respectful of others when outside, for example, tidying after the morning session to make sure that the afternoon session is equally well presented as a fresh area to explore
- children of all abilities being able to access play outside
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