Outdoor Environment Audit:

  • Outdoor Environment Audit:

    Sensory Regulation & Motor Skills

  • A 5-minute self-assessment for NQS Quality Area 3 compliance.

    Play Move Improve | Robyn Papworth (Developmental Educator & Exercise Physiologist).

  • Section 1: Proprioception & 'Heavy Work' (The Meltdown Preventers)

    Goal: To see if the yard provides enough "deep pressure" to calm high-energy children.
  • Do you have a designated 'Heavy Digging' zone with deep soil or sand?
  • Are there child-sized wheelbarrows or weighted buckets available for moving materials (mulch, rocks, water)?
  • Do children have access to 'resistance' activities like pulling weeds or raking?
  • Is there an area where children can safely push or pull large objects (e.g., large pots, logs, tyres, planks)?

  • Section 2: Vestibular & Motor Planning (The Focus Builders)

    Goal: To assess if the environment challenges balance and coordination.
  • Does the garden include uneven terrain or slopes for climbing and traversing?
  • Are there 'natural' balance beams like garden edging, logs, or flat stones that children are allowed to use?
  • Are tools (trowels, spray bottles, seed packets) stored in a way that requires children to squat, reach, or cross their midline to access?

  • Section 3: Tactile & Fine Motor (The School-Ready Skills)

    Goal: Assessing the foundation for pencil grip and hand strength.
  • Do you have at least 3 different plant textures available (e.g., 'Lamb's Ear' for soft, 'Rosemary' for rough, 'Succulents' for waxy)?
  • Are there 'Pincer Grasp' opportunities, such as sorting small seeds or picking small berries/herbs?
  • Is water play integrated into gardening (e.g., using spray bottles to develop trigger-finger strength)?

  • Section 4: NQS Compliance & Documentation

  • Can you clearly demonstrate how your outdoor space supports children with sensory processing needs?
  • Do you have a written 'Intentional Teaching' plan for outdoor developmental play?
  • Are educators confident in 'translating' garden play into developmental milestones for parent reports?
  • Should be Empty: