Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Maree Todd, has announced that the number of hours nursery children spend outdoors is set to increase.

Inspiring Scotland will receive £862,550 to encourage and support greater use of outdoor learning in the early years. Actions will include working with eight local authorities to deliver outdoor learning opportunities and producing a ‘how to’ guide for practitioners, with practical advice on how to access outdoor spaces.

Ms Todd made the announcement during a visit to City of Edinburgh Council’s Lauriston Castle Forest Kindergarten.

She said: “The significant expansion of funded early learning and childcare gives us the perfect opportunity to define the type of experience we want to offer our children during their early years. That is why we are committing more than £860,000 to increase the use of outdoor learning, to ensure it becomes a defining feature of childhood in Scotland” 

More