We in Laois County Childcare Committee were delighted to run an outdoor play project this year which focused on providing local childcare services with funding to enhance their outdoor learning environments and to increase their engagement in outdoor play. We aimed to provide these services with wet gear for both children and staff members as needed, as well as new pieces of equipment for both play and learning in the outdoors. Some of the services that we engaged with this year sent us photos and feedback on how they found taking part in this initiative, which we are pleased to share.

One local creche were excited to avail of the wet gear, which we sourced from PuddleDucks, for the children in their setting in order to make the outdoors more accessible for all children, no matter the weather.

“The access for outdoor play has increased. Children can now be outdoors in all weather and especially our children with additional needs who are not mobile. We also purchased a green house and planters. As we are part of the Bia Blasta programme, having these will mean the children will now be growing their own produce which they will the prepare and cook for their snacks and dinners. The whole process from start to finish was very fluid. LCCC engaged fully with us from day 1. They were so supportive and at the end of the phone at all times for any questions or queries we had. They were also very helpful when we were trying to figure out the logistics of it”

Another creche, with services in two different locations, were eager to provide the children in their care with some new pieces of outdoor play equipment in both settings.

The managers of the services said that engaging in this project

“has enhanced our outdoor play, prioritising movement. We enjoyed choosing play structures that best suit the needs of the children in various age groups attending our setting. We found the process very easy & engagement with LCCC very positive”.

Another full-day care creche were excited to provide new outdoor play opportunities for the children, of all ages, in their care, from toddlers to afterschool children. We were able to provide them with lots of new equipment, as well as wet gear for the staff members in the service.

“We received wheelbarrows and added to our existing mulch which renewed the mulch area and the children are playing constantly in it. We also received a new basketball net on a stand that the older children really love. This process has been so good and easy to engage with. Faye was a pleasure to deal with and was so helpful. The whole process was completed in a couple of weeks. She also took into consideration the personal needs of our setting”.

A local preschool and afterschool service were eager to extend their provision of outdoor play by not only adding to their wet gear collection by ordering some sets for the staff in the service, but also by providing the children with some new pieces of equipment that would stimulate them and encourage further interest in being outdoors.

“With the outdoor grant our main playground area was furnished with a new Wendy Playhouse with slide. In our small outdoor play /sensory area we received mirrors and a wall gem. The greatest benefit to the service is that all of the children are given more opportunities to avail of physical exploratory play in both areas for all children including children with additional needs to self-regulate. Engaging in LCCC’s Outdoor Play Initiative 2025 was indeed very positive. Faye worked collaboratively with the staff and was a great support”.

Another local preschool and afterschool service were looking to make more use of the large outdoor space that they have for the children to play in, so we at LCCC provided the funding needed to purchase a large mud kitchen and climbing frame, with protective mats to cover more of the ground for safety reasons, as well as sourcing wet gear from PuddleDucks for the children attending the setting.

“We have made a huge difference in the outdoor space – it is now so much brighter, and the children’s wet gear is of the best quality. We have a better outdoor space for our children to explore. We spend as much time as possible for our children to explore and the children are kept dry and clean in their new outdoor gear. I feel like Faye was a great help and was able to give me so many ideas and source the best quality materials. My children are so happy in our new outdoors and can now play in it a lot more comfortably with their fantastic new gear. The place is a lot brighter and safer for the children”.

A newly established School Age Care service expressed a need to develop the outdoor space in their setting, as they didn’t yet have many pieces of play equipment. They also needed a new boundary fence for one section of their outdoor area, which we were delighted to be able to fund for them, making their space more safe and secure.

“Having the secure boundary in place provides security for the School Aged Children to learn, grow and explore in this large area which previously couldn’t be used due to safety concerns. Outdoor play is essential in School Aged Care and the children’s holistic needs are being met with the introduction of outdoor play. The children love to be outside especially after spending their morning in School. The Outdoor Play Initiative was of great benefit to our service as we are a new service, providing essential childcare to a rural community in Laois and had limited funds to create a fun and engaging outdoor space. We have received a large sandpit, climbing frame and mud kitchen and have also matched the budget to include other outdoor equipment, such as a wooden car, steering wheels and climbing frame, we intend to re- gravel the area in the new year. The equipment is enjoyed daily. This stimulating environment gives children the opportunity to engage in risk taking, explore the natural environment and stimulate all 5 senses through the outdoors. All staff in the Laois County Childcare Committee are extremely helpful and responsive, and always happy to give support and guidance in relation to the Outdoor play initiative and all other matters. It is evident that Muriel, Faye and Sinead care deeply about the provision of high standard services in our County”.