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I am the manager of a day nursery with children from 3 mths to 5yrs. The nursery is broken up in to four age groups and although babies get air when not walking every day by going out in their buggies. the other ages each have their own garden for free flow. however a problem the staff seem to be having at the moment is with the weather at the moment they can not keep the doors open as it is too cold and lets all the heat out, but if they close the doors the children do not seem to be as interested in going out? any ideas on how we can change this?

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We asre in a similar position, but a thread here suggested buying butchers curtains, which we are saving up for, but in the meantime, a member of staff each day puts on her coat, which prompts some of the children to fetch theirs, before asking if anyone wants to go outside. She has never played out by herself! The children can ask to go in and out as they wish, and staff inside open and close the doors for them - it's really not so awkward as it sounds, as the children do stay out for quite a while.

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We asre in a similar position, but a thread here suggested buying butchers curtains, which we are saving up for, but in the meantime, a member of staff each day puts on her coat, which prompts some of the children to fetch theirs, before asking if anyone wants to go outside. She has never played out by herself! The children can ask to go in and out as they wish, and staff inside open and close the doors for them - it's really not so awkward as it sounds, as the children do stay out for quite a while.

hali has a butcher's curtain which works well, I think - but I'm sure she'll be along with advice about that!

 

I think this whole outdoor play thing is the cause of so many headaches - we go out every day but can't offer true free flow because of our environment. Yet other groups are not even offering outdoor play everyday. Perhaps we need clarification of what consitutes 'dangerous' weather so that we are all singng from the same hymn sheet.

 

I was at a training recently when this very question was asked and the trainer looked thoughtful and said "well I suppose you could stay in if there was a tornado..." :o

 

Maz

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Yet other groups are not even offering outdoor play everyday. Perhaps we need clarification of what consitutes 'dangerous' weather so that we are all singng from the same hymn sheet.

 

Maz

 

 

 

I work in lots of places who dont go outside in the winter, let alone bad weather. Free flow is unheard of :o

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I am the manager of a day nursery with children from 3 mths to 5yrs. The nursery is broken up in to four age groups and although babies get air when not walking every day by going out in their buggies. the other ages each have their own garden for free flow. however a problem the staff seem to be having at the moment is with the weather at the moment they can not keep the doors open as it is too cold and lets all the heat out, but if they close the doors the children do not seem to be as interested in going out? any ideas on how we can change this?

 

 

Hi,

 

Although free flow is the new pet love of Ofsted and the Foundation stage, as long as you can explain why its not happening you should be fine. In the cold weather we only open the door at specific times in order to keep the heating costs down, all children are taken outside, but once they have had enough they come in , so we end up with some outddors and some indoors, but the choice is theirs. But all get the choice, its included in daily planning and based on recent visits etc we seem to be fine doing this.

I say roll on the warm weather when they can spend more time outdoors.

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  • 2 months later...

We have been using a butchers curtain that has been designed for freeflow play. It seems to do a good job at keeping heat in.

We ordered it online from www.freeflowcurtains.com

 

I hope this helps

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