NEWS FROM THE SECTOR
Birth to 19 responds to The Play Commission's Call for Evidence: Reimagining our ambitions for children's play
Here at the Birth to 19, we are really pleased to have the opportunity to share our thoughts and evidence to the “Raising the Nation Commission on Play” in partnership with Centre for Young Lives and look forward to reading their subsequent policy recommendations.
Our 50 Things to Do initiative was created to address the crisis facing the UK’s youngest children. Their health is getting worse, and their early learning milestones are not being met. More children are also arriving at school not prepared for formal education. This matters because children who are 'school-ready' tend to stay ahead, whilst those that are not school ready and behind their peers struggle to catch up. School leaders tell us that they are increasingly concerned about the rising trend of disadvantaged children arriving into Reception class with well-established poor attendance patterns, low levels of literacy and self-regulation, who then go on to not achieve GLD at the end of the EYFS. Consequently, the attainment gap between disadvantaged learners and their peers is widening. This pattern of poor attendance and achievement then accelerates through primary and secondary school phases. 50 Things was designed to support parents and carers, especially those facing the most significant disadvantage, so that they become more confident in engaging in exciting, playful experiences with their child.
Our passion for play-filled childhood threads through other elements of work, such as providing our Primary Trainee teachers with lessons on play inside and out of the curriculum. Play is at the core of our Early Years Apprenticeship courses, going above and beyond the course requirements, and our Early Years Stronger Practice Hub work has many opportunities for practitioners to explore the value of play, particularly outdoors.
To read the full report, click here.