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EARLY EDUCATION LAUNCHES NEW RESOURCE TO SUPPORT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE OUTDOORS PRACTICE
Thursday 3rd September 2009
The British Association of Early Childhood Education (Early Education), in
partnership with Learning through Landscapes has launched a new resource
pack to support the development of effective outdoors practice.
Launched today in Liverpool, the resource
“The sky is the limit: Outdoor learning in the early years” has been
compiled by Annie Davy, Early Years Adviser for Learning through Landscapes
and has been produced by Jane Cole, an early years consultant with Early
Education. The pack, the third in a series of resources produced by Early
Education contains five leaflets to support practitioners and local
authorities develop high quality practice outdoors. The focus of each
leaflet is as follows:
1. Outdoor Overview: the cycle of quality improvement
2. Look, listen and speak out: focus on communication and language
development
3. Time and space outdoors: focus on exploration and problem solving,
mathematical development, reasoning and knowledge and understanding of the
world
4. Growing up and feeling good outdoors: focus on children’s health and
wellbeing, risk, challenge and inclusion.
5. Celebrating outdoors: focus on community, culture and creativity.
Megan Pacey, Chief Executive of Early Education said:
“Playing outdoors is essential for young children’s learning and
development. Outdoor provision is recognised as key part of early years
policy and practice in the UK, Europe and beyond.
“Research evidence suggests that changing urban and rural landscapes and
lifestyles mean that there are fewer opportunities for children to get
outside to play in their homes and their communities. Early years settings,
nursery schools and classes and childcare provision can be the main and
sometime only opportunity for some children to play outdoors.
“The outdoor environment can provide more freedom for a greater range of
play and learning. Nature itself provides endless variety, more space,
flexible free resources, multi sensory stimulation, physical and cognitive
challenge opportunities for exploration and problem solving, physical health
benefits through a greater range of activity, mental health benefits,
inspiration for creative projects and the opportunities to develop
independence and risk management. This new resource supports practitioners
to fully unlock the potential of outdoor play.”
##ENDS##
For further information please contact:
Megan Pacey
Chief Executive
Telephone: 0207 539 540 / 07545 488 004
Email:
megan@early-education.org.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. “The sky is the limit: Outdoor learning in the early years” is published
by Early Education and is available from Early Education at £15 per pack
(including postage and packaging). To order online visit
www.early-education.org.uk, by email to office@early-education.org.uk or by
telephone on 020 7539 5400.
2. A “The sky is the limit: Outdoor learning in the early years” training
package is also available from Early Education. For more details please
contact office@early-education.org.uk
3. The British Association for Early Childhood Education (Early Education)
is the leading national voluntary organisation for early years practitioners
and parents, promoting the right of all children to early education of the
highest quality. Founded in 1923, it has members in England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales and provides support, information and advice,
training and consultancy to everyone concerned with the education and care
of young children from birth to eight. For more information on the work of
Early Education visit www.early-education.org.uk
4. Learning through Landscapes, known in Scotland as Grounds for Learning,
helps schools and early years settings make the most of their outdoor spaces
for play and learning. It is a national charity with over 20 years of
experience of working in partnership to improve outdoor provision for
children. To find out more about its membership scheme to support early
years settings (Early Years Outdoors) and professionals who work with them
visit www.ltl.org.uk or telephone 01962 845 5811
Megan Pacey
Chief Executive
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