Practitioners' Views on Risk, Challenge and Safety in an Outdoor Learning Environment


	Practitioners' Views on Risk, Challenge and Safety in an Outdoor Learning Environment The purpose of this study is to explore practitioners' views on outdoor play and children's safety in an outdoor learning environment. Please be aware that you are not required to participate in this survey and that you may discontinue your participation at any time. You may also omit any items on the questionnaire you prefer not to answer. Your responses will be provided anonymously to protect your privacy under the Data Protection Act (1998). Please choose the answer which best explains your preference and tick the box next to it. Please tick more than one if a single answer does not match your perception. 1. What is your gender? Male Female 2. What is your age range? Under 18 18-25 25-30 30-35 35-40 40-45 Over 45 3. What is your highest level of qualification? GCSE A Level NVQ Level 1-2 NVQ Level 3-4 Foundation Degree Undergraduate Degree Postgraduate Degree None of the above Other 4. In what capacity do you work with children? Teacher Teaching Assistant Early Years Professional Early Years Practitioner/Nursery Nurse Nursery Assistant Childminder Nanny Babysitter Tutor Other 5. In which of the following areas is your setting located? Rural Inner city Suburban Other 6. Have you received any training on outdoor learning in the early years? Yes No 7. How important do you believe outdoor play to be in terms of a child's development and learning? Not at all important. Somewhat important. Important. Very important. Essential. 8. Which of the following benefits of outdoor play do you believe to be the most valuable? Choose your top three. Improved health and fitness. Physical development is promoted. Children learn new skills. Children learn about the environment and the world around them. Children have fun. Social development is promoted and new friendships can be made. Children can challenge their abilities and skills through risk-taking activities. Being outdoors gives children a sense of freedom that cannot be recreated in an indoor environment. Children can experience changing weather conditions. 9. To what extend and under what conditions are children offered outdoor play in your setting? 10. Which of the following (if any) do you see as a barrier to outdoor play? Choose as many as you like. Technology - television, computers, video games, mobile phones etc. The attitudes of parents towards outdoor play. Safety issues - traffic, child abuse/abduction etc. Fear of being bullied. Lack of suitable facilities/areas for outdoor play. Weather conditions - too cold and wet in the winter, risk of getting sunburnt in the summer etc. Risk - children might hurt themselves if they play outside. Lack of qualified practitioners who are able to provide good quality outdoor play opportunities. 11. Which of these activities would you percieve as being too risky to consider facilitating in an outdoor environment of an early years setting? Choose as many as you like. Tree climbing. Lighting a fire. Making a hammock between two trees and swinging in it. Cooking and eating food outdoors. Building a den and playing in it. Playing with conkers. Play fighting. Using tools such as saws, knives or hammers. 12. What do you feel are the biggest issues with current outdoor play provision? Choose your top three. Underqualified staff. Staff with inqadequate knowledge. Lack of resources. Poor quality outdoor play spaces. Lack of all-outdoor provision. Few opportunities for staff training in providing outdoor play. Current provision is not safe enough for children. Free-play is not encouraged often enough. Risky play is not encouraged often enough. Academic pressure. 13. Which of these situations or conditions would you be happy for children to play in? Choose as many as you like. Heavy rain. Snow. A very cold day. A very hot day. A muddy field. A dark evening. 14. How do you feel about unsupervised outdoor play within the age-range 3-4? 15. How and to what degree, if at all, do you encourage risk-taking in your setting's outdoor environment? 16. What are the procedures for risk assessment in the outdoor area of your setting?

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