Premises and Facilities criterion 11
There is an outdoor activity space that is:
- easily accessible and available to children;
- enclosed by structures and/or fences and gates that are maintained so that children cannot leave without an adult's help; and
- safe, well-drained, and suitably surfaced for a variety of activities.
Related to clause 45(1)(a)(i&ii) of standard.
Rationale/Intent:
The criterion aims to:
- uphold a minimum level of quality education by ensuring that children have easy access to the outdoor environment;
- uphold children's safety by ensuring that the outdoor environment is securely fenced so that 'escape' is less likely; and
- uphold children's safety and a minimum level of quality education by ensuring the area is well-drained and has suitable surfacing.
The criterion is underpinned by the belief that the opportunity for outdoor play is an important feature of the education and care of young children in NZ.