Inspiring Scotland supports Scottish Government in its commitment to improving the quality of Early Learning and Childcare through the publication of it’s Quality Action Plan.
Through the work of the go2play fund, Inspiring Scotland has championed and encouraged play-based outdoor learning in Scotland’s communities, schools and natural spaces since 2010.
We are pleased to see outdoor learning promoted in A Blueprint for 2020: The Expansion of Early Learning and Childcare in Scotland Quality Action Plan, launched on 31 October by Mark McDonald MSP, Minister for Childcare & Early Years.
Rachel Cowper, Inspiring Scotland’s Play Programme Manager and a member of the reference group which contributed to the Action Plan, said: “We firmly believe in the power and potential of outdoor free play to improve learning for all our children, helping to close the attainment gap, address inequality and reduce long-term health issues.
“We welcome the Scottish Government’s action plan to ensure quality is at the heart of Early Learning and Childcare provision and we are pleased to see the action to promote greater use of outdoor learning.
“There is a growing body of research that shows that young children’s access to nature and active outdoor play improves physical and mental well-being and can help children to develop emotionally and improve learning and aid resilience.
“We are developing innovative way to use this research to address deepening health and well-being issues, helping to improve engagement with learning and increasing opportunities for all children to experience high quality learning in an outdoor environment.”
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