Minister for Children, Young People and the Promise, Natalie Don MSP, attended the relaunch of the Space to Grow and Thrive resource. The minister was joined at Cairellot Nursery in Bishopton by the Care Inspectorate’s Executive Director of Scrutiny and Assurance, Kevin Mitchell.
Space to Grow and Thrive supports the delivery of high-quality environments for children attending early learning and school aged childcare (SACC) in Scotland.
The resource incorporates relevant Care Inspectorate guidance and provides a one-stop resource related to both indoor and outdoor settings. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date framework for planning, designing and delivering high-quality ELC and SACC settings that support children’s wellbeing, learning and development.
Since the original launch of the resource in 2017 there have been several developments which have impacted on how ELC and SACC are delivered. The new document incorporates the lessons learned from the expansion programme, the Covid-19 pandemic, and feedback from the sector.
Staff, providers, prospective providers and members of the public should find this resource helpful as it details information and standards about the environment and the positive impact this can have on children’s experiences.
Research confirms that environment plays a key role in shaping children’s development and learning.
Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise Natalie Don said: "The Scottish Government wants children to have the best start in life so I welcome the publication of this refreshed guidance. I know the important role it plays in supporting ELC and school age childcare settings considering the further development or design of new spaces for our children and young people.
"It is essential to provide children with an environment that supports quality play and learning opportunities and getting these spaces right is vital. This new guidance is not only updated but also more accessible and merges three related guidance documents into one better supporting providers."
Kevin Mitchell, Care Inspectorate Executive Director of Scrutiny and Assurance, said: “I'm delighted to be here today at Cairellot to launch the Space to Grow and Thrive resource. It is great to see firsthand the difference an engaging environment can make for children and young people.
"We want to create the best conditions for children to thrive and get the best from their childcare experience, and for Scotland to be the best place for children to grow up.
"Space to Grow and Thrive is a valuable tool for childcare practitioners, managers and providers, and for families looking to understand what high-quality should look like for childcare environments.
"Children now spend more time in these settings following the expansion programme, and the Covid-19 pandemic also provided both challenges and opportunities for the sector.
"The Care Inspectorate continues to support innovative approaches to delivering high quality outcomes for children and has developed additional guidance to support the sector. This guidance is incorporated in to this newly updated resource. We would also like to thank everyone who contributed to this update, especially the children who shared their views and experiences, and the services featured, including Cairellot where we find ourselves today."
Cairellot owner and manager Rosie Elliot said: "We are proud to host the launch of the new Space to Grow and Thrive resource, which aligns beautifully with Cairellot's free flow pedagogy. The resource will inspire settings to develop their own innovate approaches to learning environments, supporting effective outcomes for children."
The newly updated resource can be found here.