At Beaconside Primary & Nursery School, we are committed to providing a rich and stimulating outdoor environment that supports children’s physical, emotional, and creative development through meaningful play experiences.

We recognise that play is a vital part of children’s learning and development. With children spending around 20% of their school time in play, we strive to ensure that this time is as enriching, purposeful, and joyful as possible. Play is a fundamental process through which children develop skills and knowledge that cannot be taught through formal instruction alone.

To foster high-quality play, we ensure children have:

• Appropriate clothing that allows them to play freely and comfortably.
• A variety of engaging and stimulating play materials and resources.
• Sufficient freedom and space to explore, create, and interact.

Areas of Play

Our outdoor environment is thoughtfully designed to offer diverse play opportunities that cater to different interests and developmental needs, including:

• Wheel Play: Space for bikes, scooters, and other wheeled toys to develop balance and coordination.
• Ball Games Area: Facilities for throwing, catching, and team games that build physical skills and social interaction.
• Physical Play Area: Equipment and open spaces for climbing, running, jumping, and other gross motor activities.
• Construction Area: Materials and space for building and creating, encouraging problem-solving and fine motor skills.
• Role Play: Areas where children can engage in imaginative scenarios, supporting language development and social skills.
• Small World Play: Opportunities to explore miniature environments, fostering creativity and narrative skills.
• Den Building: Encouraging teamwork, creativity, and spatial awareness.
• Music and Crafts: Spaces for creative expression through sound and art.
• Messy Café: A sensory-rich area for tactile and exploratory play.
• Social Areas: Comfortable spaces designed for conversation, cooperation, and friendship building.
• Quiet Areas: Calm zones for reflection, relaxation, or solitary play.

We are also excited to share that a sensory garden and sandpit are currently under development to further enhance sensory experiences and fine motor development.

We continuously seek ways to enhance our outdoor play provision and welcome the support of our school community in making playtime a positive and valuable part of every child’s school day.