North Lanarkshire South Childcare Network Outdoor Learning Group Covers the localities of Bellshill, Motherwell, Wishaw/Shotts

Context  The project is designed to have an impact on increasing the numbers of families participating together in outdoor learning within the areas of Wishaw/Shotts, Bellshill, and Motherwell. We have engaged 6 parent champions (dads) who have embarked on the outdoor first aid course and Forest Schools Level 1. The project is supported by the Forest Education Initiative and NLC South Childcare Network Outdoor Learning steering group. It is hoped that by providing parent champions within the local area this will help to give parents/ carers and their children a voice around outdoor play and learning and that we would see an increase in seldom heard parents/carers becoming involved. It will also give the families and children the opportunity to participate in networking events and investigate different methods involved with outdoor learning. The aim is to provide positive experiences for families and children to participate in outdoor activities together.

Changes/Improvements *What changes are you currently testing  What have you learned so far We have currently : 1. Engaged a steering group which comprises of members that can support development of outdoor play across Motherwell, Wishaw, Shotts and Bellshill. 2. Engaged parent champions and worked with them to ascertain the level of engagement they are comfortable with for example did they wish to be part of a focus group or trained in Forest Schools Approach. 3. Began to train parent champions with the hope of engaging seldom heard parents/carers /children in the community and increase the involvement of families in Outdoor Learning, making stronger community assets. Learning :As predicted there were a couple of people who started with the steering group initially who did leave. One person left for a new post, another left as his remit had increased however he has referred a colleague to the group. The group has continued to grow with new members coming joining almost every month. As services are now well represented we would wish to retain the membership as it currently stands. Dads have had a fantastic impact on the group and its development. Those involved feel passionate about the importance this group can make. All dads agreed to take part in Outdoor First aid in Oct and Forest Schools Level 1. We actually did not have the difficulty we had expected in engaging dad/male carers with the first dad being recruited in August, two dad’s joining the group in September and two in December.

Who is involved?  Who is involved in the test of this change?  6 Parent Champions  Early Years and Childcare  Bellshill and Mossend YMCA  Newmains Family Learning Centre  Health  Sacred Heart Primary and Nursery Class  St Gerard’s Primary and Nursery Class  Community Learning and development Psychological Services Forest Education Initiative Forestry Commission Regeneration Services Circle One Parent Families Scotland Waverley Trust North Lanarkshire Countryside Rangers

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The Human Factor Using the Health and Wellbeing indicators Psychological services are working with the parent champions to identify the impact being part of this project has had on them, and their families. Parent champions and their families have seen an increase in the amount of outdoor experiences they participate in since joining the group. They are now more likely to go outdoors as a family at weekends and have reported their children spend less time on computer games. The parent champions work well together and have become good friends. They have been asked to to talk about their project at events and we are already beginning to see how readily a parent will open up to another parent about loneliness and isolation, and how open parents are to attend future networking events held by the Parent Champions.

Next Steps  Parent Champions are currently undergoing their level 1 Forest Schools training and have expressed an interest in accessing level 2.  At the end of February Parent Champions will host their first observation event for their own families. This will be done in partnership with Forest Schools Initiative and will involve the parents carrying out activities and risk assessments they have learned on the course.  Parent Champions will work with the Forestry Commission to choose resources for family bags which they will use when working in the community.

“So What?”  The (predicated) outcome(s) for the child/family/community  That the parent champions will become a community asset for their own local communities with the hope that engagement in outdoor learning increases, particularly amongst those who are seldom heard. It is also hoped that this project will give local people a voice on how this can be developed within their own communities and that they will become involved in forming focus groups and explore outdoor learning within their own communities and beyond.  That parent champions continue to be invited to participate in local events and have a knowledge of outdoor experiences and activities that they can sign post families to as well as supporting services and developing their own networking events.

Investment of Resources  What have you invested into this improvement work?  This project has been funded through the Early Years Collaborative and NLC South Childcare Network.  Parent Champions are currently volunteering their own time to support this project. The also were chosen as a focus group for the recent Children’s Services inspection which took place in North Lanarkshire.  Steering group members have included the development of the project within their work plans and regularly attend meetings.

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