Continuous Provision for Outdoor Play

The Statutory Framework for the EYFS (2021)¹  that providers must give children daily access to an outdoor play area or, where that’s not possible, ensure that outdoor activities are planned and carried out every day. An outdoor area is just as important for young children’s wellbeing and development as the indoor environment².

The outdoors builds on what you provide indoors. By thinking about how outdoor experiences benefit each child, you can decide what to include and how to plan outdoor continuous provision.

If children are going to have continuous access to outdoor equipment with limited adult input, it should be organised around their developmental needs and tailored to their interests – drawing them in through curiosity and relevance.

Understanding the skills children need to develop lets you identify which areas of your outdoor space to enhance. Make sure outdoor play activities are genuinely outdoor – not just indoor play moved outside. Use the space you have well, and give children chances to explore experiences they can’t have indoors^3,4.

Assess each child’s access needs and interests

Outline clear learning goals aligned with the EYFS prime and specific areas of learning

Reflect individual needs in your activities and materials

Link bridging skills to your indoor provision – for example, moving a water tray outdoors to explore capacity and flow

Plan explicitly for outdoor skill development – for example, balancing on logs or using gardening tools

Blend indoor and outdoor resources to boost engagement and scaffold skills

Collaborate across your whole team, ensuring everyone understands skill development and how indoor ideas translate outside

Remember to always risk-assess any activities you are planning within your outdoor space. Using a Risk Management tool ensures risks can be identified, monitored and managed, whilst improvements can be made through learning from events, incidents, errors and near misses. It’s also important to have the right insurance in place to carry out your planned activities.

Always inform your insurance company of any changes to your setting whether it is outdoor play equipment or new activities for the children such as forest activities.

For more information about Everywhen and our online risk management tool, please contact us on 0330 123 5357 or visit our nursery insurance webpage.

Sources:

1. https://sdn.org.uk/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf

2. https://www.arnoldhouse.co.uk/2026/02/13/the-importance-of-outdoor-play-in-early-years-education/

3. https://cyps.northyorks.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Early%20years/Maintaining%20and%20Improving%20Quality/Outdoor%20Play%20toolkit.pdf

4. https://www.arnoldhouse.co.uk/2026/02/13/the-importance-of-outdoor-play-in-early-years-education/

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute legal or other professional advice and cannot be relied upon as such. Should you have any queries, we recommend that you consult the appropriate professional adviser.

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