Why free flow helps children’s development
Many nurseries today offer free flow; this allows children to independently choose to move between the different environments. For some settings free flow can pose challenges as they may be based upstairs and have to find ways of accessing the outdoors, whereas settings based on one level have more opportunities of incorporating outdoors in their free flow. Free flow offers children many learning and development opportunities and it enables practitioners to fully embrace the use of the whole environment.
Ways in which free flow can benefit children’s development;
- Greater independence – As children are able to access the different environments freely it helps them develop greater independence. They are able to make those independent choices as to whether they play outdoors or access the messy activities inside. Older children especially strive on being given extra responsibilities and this will help them later on in life.
- Progress at own pace – Children shouldn’t be rushed in their learning, it should be about giving children time to fully embrace the skills they are learning. Free flow gives children the opportunity to develop at their own pace, they can decide to either spend the morning outside participating in the stimulating activities or sitting at the table manipulating play dough.
- Decision making – As children are able to choose where they would like to play and with what, this is developing their decision making skills. As they get older they will begin to learn that their choices may have consequences.
- Physical well being – Offering children the choice especially the outdoors enables them the opportunity to run around and build on their physical skills. The outdoor space is great for those children who prefer to be outdoors, as practitioners can use their skills and mirror the indoor activities outdoors.
- Learning about the different environments – As children explore the different environment it opens up many leaning opportunities as they discover the difference between inside and outside
It sounds like a play center. My child has been hit on numerous occasions without teacher intervention so the bullies carry on. The teachers have no idea what my child has done throughout the afternoon. The toilets are dirty and my child doesn’t go. No discipline, no structure. The noise level was unbearable and children were like wild animals. I’m now sad when I leave my child. The atmosphere is chaotic and the teachers look disengaged. My child has free flow at home but doesn’t behave like the children at her nursery. Really very disappointed.
How do you manage this type of free flow play? There are so many issues around safeguarding, safety and supervision as well as staying in ratio. Also how do you ensure such young children have been to the toilet and are properly dressed for outdoor play in the UK when our weather is cold, wet and continuously changing? I would really like some tips and advice on how I could manage a group of 30 children to ensure everyone gets outside during a morning in this way without being run ragged trying to prevent accidents and incidents due to lack of supervision.
This is a very question… I too, would also like an update how the children can be successfully supervised with this type of teaching strategy.
We have been using free-flow or free-access for the past 6 years. Our Pre-school children independently go up & down the stairs, our baby room have their own garden which they use or if they wish to access the main garden they can. We have seen how independent our children are when they leave for school. I feel this is the right approach for children’s leaving.
How do I apply for free early years nursery?
You will need to apply through your local authority.