Free flow play

[Teresajos]

Could someone advice me please. Before the summer break we had lovely free flow play into a well equipped garden the children/parents all loved this as did the staff. Lots of play and independent learning occurred and everything was just fine. Since our return my manager now wants only timed use of the garden with small groups fine don't mind a bit of small group work but we have children crying to get out with their friends and some crying because they don't want to go out. It's really upsetting the staff but he is adamant this is the way forward and we must do it this way. Am I loosing the plot but I thought free flow was the way forward and best practice.