Cyp 3.4 – 1.1 Describe the Factors to Take Into Account When Planning Healthy and Safe Indoor and Outdoor Environments for Children and Young People

CYP 3.4 – 1.1
Describe the factors to take into account when planning healthy and safe indoor and outdoor environments for children and young people.

The environment has an immediate effect on the quality of the children’s learning and development. Therefore, it should be comfortable, interesting, attractive and appropriate for children who use the setting. There are a number of important factors to be considered while planning for safe indoor and outdoor activities but the most important one is ‘Every Child Matters’ i.e. everyone is an individual and may have particular needs. These different needs depend on their age and abilities. A suitable environment for a baby will be different from a suitable environment for a three or four year old although some features will be the same. Ages and abilities are the major factors while planning room layouts. For example; a baby room that has a lot of toddlers will require different equipment and resources or different areas as compared to the room with babies only. Therefore the resources used should be age and stage appropriate and should carry the safety marks;


‘Every Child Matters: Change for Children’ recognises that children’s performance/learning and well-being go hand in hand: they cannot learn if they do not feel safe or health problems are allowed to create barriers. Some children may have specific needs such as sensory impairment or may be allergic to some of the foods (sometimes they are so allergic to food items that they are not even allowed to touch them). So while planning activities, health conditions or any other special needs should be considered e.g. visual aid or sign language for children with hearing impairment. Placing pictures of hands being washed near the toilets, showing pictures where it is made clear that you walk not run etc. Children should always be within the sight of the adult whilst also allowing them to enjoy their environment.

Factors which are taken into account when...