RAFAKidz

RAFAKidz nursery, located on station at RAF Cranwell, were awarded £80,000 under the Armed Forces Families Fund: Early Years programme to enrich the learning and development of Service children by refurbishing its outdoor space to promote and encourage healthy and active lifestyles.

The charity, who supports the RAF community, was created to address the requirements of families by offering affordable and high-quality childcare services for Service children.

Importance of outdoor play

With 80 percent of the children having experience of a deployed parent, the nursery team are well acquainted with the challenges faced during deployments. Their understanding comes from the valuable feedback they receive from the military families they assist, including the positive effects of outdoor play and learning to mitigate some of the challenges.

The flooring and canopy shelters in the nursery’s outdoor area were installed more than 18 years ago and had reached the end of their useful lifespan. Resulting in water seepage and holes in the flooring becoming more prevalent, with some areas posing a trip hazard and limiting children’s access to fully enjoy the outdoor space.

Outside space where children can thrive

The funding received from the Early Years programme enabled the nursery to carry out improvements to the outdoor space, including the safe removal and disposal of the old flooring and shelter. These were replaced with new timber shelters and wet pour flooring, transforming the space into a safe and enjoyable area for the children throughout the year.

The Director of Operations for RAFAKidz Nicky Davis said: “Spending time outdoors is vital for children’s development as it allows them to explore and experiment, as well as offering them opportunities to practise essential skills such as balance and spatial awareness. The new outdoor space at RAFAKidz Cranwell is wonderful as it means our children have a place they can enjoy in all weathers, providing more opportunities for them to learn and flourish, whilst having fun. Watching the children being active outside, running around, squealing with joy, and enjoying themselves is delightful!”

With the children now enjoying unrestricted access to the outdoor space, significantly expanding the area for them to engage in activities such as biking, scooting, using parachutes and playing ball games. The outdoor play area is crucial to the development of their physical health, including muscular and bone development, and boosting their immune system. It also provides a benefit to their mental health and overall wellbeing, encouraging social interaction helping to facilitate new friendships and contributing to improved sleep cycles.

The nursery staff adds: “On behalf of the children and staff at RAFAKidz Cranwell, thank you so much! The support will have a lasting legacy on the learning and development of hundreds of Service children for many years to come”.