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Dear <<First Name>>
 The latest consultation on the future of Scottish education closed a few days ago. Filling in the incredibly long and complex form was like stepping into an alternative universe. In the real world, settings and schools are struggling with the ongoing effects of the pandemic – on working conditions, staffing issues and, above all, the well-being of the children. But in the world of Scottish government, the burning issue of the day is how to reorganise Education Scotland and the SQA.
So far, structural ‘reform of this kind has made damn all difference to what happens on the ground. It just preoccupies policymakers, bureaucrats and journalists, thus ignoring and  obscuring the real problems. Towards the end of November, two blogs appeared about life in the real world. One, by the CEO of a Scottish childcare social enterprise, relates to current issues for the ELC workforce; the other, by the Chair of Upstart, is about the increasingly urgent need to focus on Health and Wellbeing in early level, rather than too early academic attainment.
Please read on. The next item in this newsletter gives a suggestion for helping policymakers see what really matters. And the whole newsletter is about why they really must start listening. SOON.
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WISE WORDS ABOUT CHILDHOOD
 Exactly a year to the day since the launch of Play is the Way: early years, child development and the future of Scottish education, Upstart launched the Play is the Way Little Book of Quotes – 52 inspirational quotes about childhood, child development and play, selected and illustrated by Bryony Date, and published by Pete Ellse of the Cosy Foundation.
We brought Bryony and Peter together with four of the experts whose words Bryony had chosen for her book (plus a lovely message from a fifth). The discussion, as described below by members of the audience, was brilliant. You can watch the launch here and copies of the book can be bought here.
PLEASE also help us try to focus the attention of policymakers on what really matters by contributing to this Just Giving page, so we can send a copy of the Little Book of Quotes to all Scotland’s MSPs and Directors of Education.
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The real 'catch-up agenda' is about childhood wellbeing
 Last month, the Children’s Alliance published yet another document about the importance of the first thousand days for children’s long-term health. This isn't new knowledge: some of the famous researchers whose work informed it recently published ‘The Origins of You: how childhood shapes later life’. It's well-established developmental science to which (unaccountably) most governments pay little more than lip service.
Yet, even when support is available, many parents are still unable to provide the support their children need and – as a recent Action for Children report makes clear – COVID has hugely exacerbated this problem. This webinar from Parents Across Scotland shows how seriously COVID has impacted on the under-fives.
 This is why we urgently need to ensure that, as soon as children enter Scotland’s universal childcare and education services, the focus is on positive relationships and play-based pedagogy till the year they turn seven, rather than a too-early start on the three Rs. (The same, of course, applies to England’s settings and schools, as these desperate blogs from Ruth Swailes and an anonymous headteacher make very clear … but England is something of a lost cause in this respect, while Scotland could actually do something about it.)
In social and economic terms, we know from countries like Estonia (see this Sunday Times piece) and Finland (see this recent analysis), that a relationship-centred, play-based kindergarten stage for this age group leads to higher levels of long-term wellbeing and learning outcomes. And in human terms, we know that all children benefit from plenty of love and play during early childhood. Let’s give all Scottish children the best possible early childhood!
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Does Virgin Money agree that Play is the Way?
We're just about to send the following email to Virgin Money. who are using our name in a new campaign. We're not sure whether their aims are completely in line with ours, but who knows, maybe we can help each other. We'll let you know of any developments.
'A supporter sent us this link to the Virgin Money campaign about Upstarts. It’s all about people being creative, innovative and resilient, which fits in very well with Upstart Scotland’s message about early childhood care and education.
 The World Economic Forum has been sharing this message ever since 2015, which is the year Upstart Scotland was founded. It has also shared our messages about the centrality of play to learning and the way five-year-olds are now deprived of play due to misguided educational policies. It’s a great admirer of policies in Finland and Estonia, where children don’t start formal education till they are seven.
Upstart Scotland has already influenced Scottish policy in many ways but, owing to the UK’s cultural attachment to a very early start on formal learning, there's still quite a way to go. If you would be interested in hearing more about our work and possibly helping us spread the word about the best way to care for and educate young children, please get in touch.'
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News and Views Round-Up
- The month started with a call to double the Scottish Child Payment for families living in poverty, and ended with the good news that this will indeed happen, next April.
- Fiona Duncan, Chair of The Promise Scotland, argues against the proposed National Care Service in the Scotsman.
- Report finds that the number of childminders has plummeted in Scotland over recent years.
 A well-argued article on why behaviour management techniques, like the dreaded traffic lights, don’t work. https://sarahockwell-smith.com/2017/12/01/why-most-school-discipline-doesnt-work/- Advice in the TESS from the EIS on 13 ways to transform Scottish education , one of which is: More money for play-based learning as well as "a move away from assessment approaches that are misaligned with this".
- Recording of interesting Scottish Educational Research Association conference on International Perspectives on COVID and Practice, with speakers from Falkirk, Iceland and New Zealand. Lots of information about Falkirk’s ‘Marvellous Meals’ project.
- The first edition of Insight, Children in Scotland’s new members magazine, included a piece linking Tina Bruce’s new book on Froebel to Upstart’s campaign for a kindergarten stage.
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
 Of course, this month’s quote must be one from Bryony Date's wee book – and these words of wisdom from Peter Gray are a great way to sign off. The book makes an excellent stocking filler so please pass on this link to your nearest and dearest so they can buy you a copy. Or, if you’re planning to treat yourself, Cosy will sell you two copies at a discount so you can send the extra one to somebody who needs it!
Upstart would also be immensely grateful if you could spare a few pounds for our Just Giving campaign to send copies to policymakers. Cosy has donated the books, so all we need to raise is the cost of postage. Last year's gift of Play is the Way to Scottish policymakers resulted in a debate in Parliament and the inclusion of a kindergarten stage in three party manifestos! As the bureaucrats focus on mind-numbing (and probably very expensive structural) reform, we need to remind our political leaders about what really matters.
Onwards and upwards!
The Upstart team
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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