A school outside area such as grass and Playgrounds are vital environments that shape how children learn, grow, and connect with the world around them. These outdoor spaces offer opportunities for children to engage in physical, social, emotional, and cognitive experiences that build lifelong skills. It can encourage active lifestyle from an early age, laying the foundation for healthy habits that can combat childhood obesity and support lifelong wellbeing. When children are encouraged to explore and move freely, they not only gain physical strength but also develop confidence in their bodies and abilities.
Beyond physical health, these spaces serve as social environments for children. These shared outdoor spaces create natural opportunities for social interaction, cooperation, and emotional understanding. They learn essential social skills, how to communicate, share, take turns, and negotiate. These interactions are fundamental for building empathy and cooperation, both of which are critical for healthy social and emotional development.
- At present nationally only 37% are regularly active every day- with an Inclusive Playground that can be 100% over five school days.
- More than a quarter of FSM-eligible children are spending three hours or more a day on screens – with an Inclusive Playground we can ensure that every child accesses a minimum of 50 mins a day on just playing and no screen in sight.
How? Through ConnectEd you can access the PASS team who will explore and discuss how as a school you can develop your outdoor space to ensure every child can enjoy and be involved in ‘play’. Develop young volunteers and your workforce to ensure that ‘lunchtime’ is part of a continuous provision of their day to include, stretch and bring joy to every child. For more information please helen.bourton@connectedpartnership.com