Overall Design considerations and awareness

Traditionally, Ireland has placed a greater focus on indoor rather than outdoor play environments. There is now a recognition that high quality early learning is best facilitated through a balance of indoor and outdoor learning opportunities.

The Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 require a full daycare, part-time daycare, sessional or childminding service registered for the first time after 30th June 2016 or moves to new premises after 30th June 2016 to have daily access to a suitable safe and secure outdoor space on the premises. Full daycare, part-time daycare or childminding services registered before that date, must ensure outdoor space on the premises is suitable, safe and secure. Where no such space is provided on the premises children should have access on a daily basis to a suitable outdoor space. For sessional, temporary or preschool in a drop in centre, the outdoor space where provided on the premises must be suitable, safe and secure. Where children attending a sessional, temporary or service in a drop in access, a space not on the premises must be suitable. While the Childcare Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 do not have a recommended minimum outdoor space, based on International research the National Children’s Nurseries Association (2002) suggests that consideration be given to 9m2 per child.

Indoor and outdoor space is essential for learning and development and an increasing number of settings spend more time outside. The indoors and outdoors should be complimentary and integrated, with all key children’s spaces having easy access to the outdoor environment.

Fuji Montessori Kindergarten, Tokyo, Japan.

Design features

• Folding external walls and level access help to integrate internal and external spaces.
• Projecting roof creates a transition space and reinforces the connection and flow between inside and outside.
• The entire roof forms a roof terrace providing extensive play areas for the setting.