A new Nordic-style Open Kindergarten is set to be trialed in Scotland, with the potential for a wider rollout across the country in the future. The launch event for this initiative took place in Bonnyrigg, bringing together practitioners, decision makers, third sector organizations, and parents.
Open Kindergartens, originating in Nordic countries, have been a longstanding form of parental and family support. These spaces allow groups of parents, carers, and young children to meet regularly and receive support from highly-qualified early years staff to enhance parents’ skills, confidence, and knowledge.
The project is spearheaded by the national parenting charity, Parenting Across Scotland, in collaboration with Midlothian Sure Start, the Open University for evaluation, and Children in Scotland for developing learning materials for professionals. The Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund is providing funding for this endeavor.
The introduction of an Open Kindergarten model to Scotland began in 2018, with successful pilots conducted in Midlothian and Edinburgh in 2020. The new phase will involve trials of Open Kindergartens in various locations across the Lothians, with the aim of using the learnings to expand the program to other areas of Scotland.
Amy Woodhouse, Chief Executive of Parenting Across Scotland, expressed excitement about leading this new phase of the Open Kindergarten project. She highlighted the importance of providing safe and supportive spaces for parents and carers of babies and young children.
David Mackay, Head of Policy, Projects, and Participation at Children in Scotland, emphasized the significance of Open Kindergartens in offering practical and wellbeing-focused community-based support for parents and carers. He stressed the importance of play, development, and socialization opportunities for babies and young children.
Dr. Hannah Hale from The Open University mentioned that overseeing the evaluation of this phase of the Open Kindergarten project is a privilege. The evaluation aims to provide insights into the effectiveness and impact of this approach to supporting parents and carers of young children, with the goal of extending Open Kindergartens across Scotland.
Cheryl Brown, CEO of Midlothian Sure Start, expressed delight in supporting the expansion of the Open Kindergarten model. She highlighted how this model aligns with their values of providing high-quality relationship-based services and rights-based family learning to all parents.
Overall, the introduction of a Nordic-style Open Kindergarten in Scotland represents a promising step towards enhancing support for parents, carers, and young children. With successful trials and evaluations, this initiative has the potential to positively impact families across the country and promote holistic family support.
