Gloucestershire case study: Little Explorers Pre-School and Nursery

How do children use and see the garden, and how does this differ from adults’ expectations?

Who we are

I am Lucy Sherman, Nursery Manager at Little Explorers Pre-School and Nursery in the Cotswolds.

What we learned

• Children value small spaces: while staff imagined a large open space would be best, children preferred separate, smaller areas where they could play without interruptions.
• Space matters most: across group discussions, questionnaires and creative activities, the strongest theme was a desire for dedicated play zones. This was mentioned almost twice as much as any other feature.
• Fun first: in collage activities, children often chose exciting toys first, but when asked where these should go, they emphasised the need for space and organisation.
• Group voice works best: children were less confident in individual interviews but opened up in group discussions, bouncing ideas off one another.

Why it matters

Outdoor play is a core part of early years development, but spaces only work if they meet children’s real needs and preferences. This project showed that adult assumptions don’t always align with children’s experiences. Designing gardens around children’s voices creates more enjoyable, purposeful environments for play and learning.

Research doesn’t have to be big or academic to make an impact. Even small projects in nursery settings can provide powerful insights into what children really want and need.

What’s next?

• Redesign the garden to include smaller, clearly defined play areas
• Follow up to evaluate whether changes improve children’s enjoyment and use of the space
• Share findings with SLT to inform wider outdoor learning provision
• Use small-scale research more often to test and improve routines, environments and documents in practice

At Little Explorers, we’re committed to designing learning spaces shaped by children’s voices, ensuring outdoor play is both engaging and meaningful.