Outdoor play activities 'more common in private nurseries'
26/05/2010 Children in private nurseries are more likely to learn through participation in outdoor play activities, a new survey suggests.
Figures from the British Educational Suppliers Association reported by Nursery World show that there is a significant difference in the amount of time spent on outdoor play activities between private nurseries and schools.
Just 11 per cent of schools spent three-quarters of their time on play activities in contrast with 37 per cent of private nurseries.
Ray Barker, director of the BESA, was quoted as saying: "There has been much debate over whether early years educators should be continuing to teach, or if they should focus more on learning through play."
More than 70 per cent of nurseries and schools were shown to spend more than 70 per cent of their Early Years Capital Grant on outdoor play equipment.
There are many benefits of outdoor play activities for children.
A report by the White House Childhood Obesity Task Force suggested recently that a lack of outdoor play activities was causing more children to be overweight.
Figures from the British Educational Suppliers Association reported by Nursery World show that there is a significant difference in the amount of time spent on outdoor play activities between private nurseries and schools.
Just 11 per cent of schools spent three-quarters of their time on play activities in contrast with 37 per cent of private nurseries.
Ray Barker, director of the BESA, was quoted as saying: "There has been much debate over whether early years educators should be continuing to teach, or if they should focus more on learning through play."
More than 70 per cent of nurseries and schools were shown to spend more than 70 per cent of their Early Years Capital Grant on outdoor play equipment.
There are many benefits of outdoor play activities for children.
A report by the White House Childhood Obesity Task Force suggested recently that a lack of outdoor play activities was causing more children to be overweight.
