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Will the SNP Conference vote for a kindergarten stage? There’s been plenty more media interest in the proposal described in last month’s newsletter.

BBC Scotland reported it on 31-8-22 and the Daily Record on 1-8-22. On 7-8-22 there was a very positive article in the National, followed by a somewhat negative one in the Herald on 8-8-22 (‘Education secretary dismisses SNP conference bid to raise the school starting age’). However the Press and Journal ran a poll about whether children should start school at six in which a resounding 77% of readers said ‘Yes, they need more play!’ 

On 14-8-22, an ‘exclusive’ in the National proclaimed that ‘Leading experts support raising the school starting age for Scottish school children.’ We’ve reproduced the letter on our website because it’s behind the National’s firewall.  And we’re really grateful to all those leading experts for signing it. On 21-8-22 BBC Scotland broadcast a 15 minute live discussion (starts at 43.00 on timeline) between Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop and Upstart’s Sue Palmer on the developmental reasons behind the controversy. A BBC staff member said "Now I understand what you’re all on about", which was gratifying.
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On 29-8-22, Lesley Riddoch joined the fray with a wonderfully-argued piece in the Herald: ‘Why does the Scottish government have a problem with raising the school starting age?’  Upstart followed it up next day with a letter: 'A play-based kindergarten school stage would be a vitally important culture change.'

We should know by the end of the week whether the motion makes it on to the agenda. Please keep all your fingers crossed... But whatever happens, a generous supporter has paid for us to have a stand at the Conference (thank you!) and the Cosy Foundation is donating a new leaflet (thanks Cosy!), So, all being well, we'll be there...

GET THE BAIRNS OOT!


Our latest blog – ‘What’s so special about the three- to seven-age-range?’ – makes yet another argument for a kindergarten stage with plenty of active, social, outdoor play. And on 27-8-22, Nordic Horizons' podcast (‘Get the bairns oot’) about Norwegian outdoor kindergartens backed up the blog: outdoor play is a natural vehicle for early
social development
.

Over the last seven years, this newsletter has published an avalanche of evidence that outdoor play (particularly in nature) is vital for every aspect of early child development.  A recent podcast conversation between ‘risky play specialist’ Tim Gill and Play Scotland’s Marguerite Hunter Blair adds to the list, as does a Times report on children’s dwindling understanding of the natural world and the research study that inspired our blog.

On PlayDay 2022, a Guardian report illustrated how 21st century culture makes it virtually impossible for parents to send their young children out to play. So, with healthy development under even greater threat from the pandemic and economic crisis, it’s urgent that the government steps in and reorganises our education system to reinstate outdoor play at the heart of early childhood.

THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION


The Scottish government's announcement of a ‘National Discussion’ on education during the summer inspired an excellent article by Henry Hepburn in the TESS, hoping that education won’t be seen – as it so often is – as a handy dumping ground for all society’s problems.  Upstart would like to add another hope, i.e. that early years will feature prominently in the national discussion – Strathclyde University certainly got the sector off to a good start with a very well-received keynote on Realising the Ambition at the EECERA 2022 world conference on 24-8-22. 
  
Any discussion must also be mindful of the new pressures on schools arising from the pandemic and rising levels of poverty.  As an article in the Observer points out, “Evidence grows of lockdown harm to the young. But we act as if nothing happened.” The social and emotional impact of the pandemic (including the social isolation of lockdowns and, for many children, traumatic family events) will reverberate for years.  As usual, those growing up in poverty have been hit the hardest and, as Third Force News Scotland points out, due to the economic crisis their number increases significantly every day.  We hope delegates to the SNP conference are aware of the developmental repercussions of these disastrous social changes.   On 29-8-22, our Children’s Commissioner spoke out about this – Scotland’s children now have need of a nurturing educational environment more than at any time since the Second World War.   
 

More News, Views, Etc.


We love this summary of children’s rights in ‘true play’ from AnjiPlay in China

Now that Additional Support Needs have reached 33% in Scotland, TESS Scotland says ASN pupils must no longer be seen as a costly afterthought.  We suggest they should also be the subject of forethought, in terms of provision of early childhood education and care (3 to 7 years).

We came across this blog on What on earth makes Finnish schools so good? while googling with ref to the SNP motion. Some politicians have told us to stop going on about the wonders of the Nordic countries, and we can’t work out why. Surely it can’t be that they prefer to look south for inspiration?  

Another accidental find this month was a YouTube video on the Neuroscience of Play.  Can’t think why we’ve never stumbled on it before.

If you’re a nursery leader who hasn’t seen this blog from Blossom Education (17-8-22) about how to prepare for inspection in Scotland, it looks very useful to us.

Please try to find 10 minutes to watch this super film from the Froebel Trust on Slow Pedagogy. (filmed in Scotland). We think it would make a great discussion focus for a staff meeting.  

 QUOTE OF THE MONTH




This quote from Lesley's article in the Herald on 29-8-22 should be pinned up on the wall of every Scottish policy-maker, at national and local authority level, Please pass it on to anyone you know who'll be a delegate at the SNP Conference and refer them to the Evidence section on www.upstart.scot if they want to check out the research behind it. .   

Onwards and upwards!
The Upstart team
Find us at www.upstart.scot or on Facebook at Upstart Scotland and Twitter @UpstartScot

Upstart Scotland is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC047775).
Its principal contact address is The Old Police Station, Isleornsay, Isle of Skye, IV43 8QR.

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