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| More money hope for play learning | More money hope for play learning |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| More money is likely to be given to implement a new play-based learning scheme for young children in schools, it is understood. | More money is likely to be given to implement a new play-based learning scheme for young children in schools, it is understood. |
| Education Minister Jane Hutt is to make an announcement to the assembly on Wednesday after meetings with education authorities (LEAs) and teaching unions. | Education Minister Jane Hutt is to make an announcement to the assembly on Wednesday after meetings with education authorities (LEAs) and teaching unions. |
| Teachers and LEAs claim the Foundation Phase, which teaches three to seven-year-olds through play, is underfunded by several million pounds. | Teachers and LEAs claim the Foundation Phase, which teaches three to seven-year-olds through play, is underfunded by several million pounds. |
| Ms Hutt has previously denied this. | Ms Hutt has previously denied this. |
| A number of schools are currently running a trial of the early years learning programme, and the assembly government plans to implement it nationally in September. | |
| However some head teachers have threatened to boycott the scheme because they say there is not enough money to implement it. | However some head teachers have threatened to boycott the scheme because they say there is not enough money to implement it. |
| They socialise more with children I think and I think it develops their confidence Linda Bennett, whose children have learnt through the Foundation Phase | |
| Linda Bennett, from Tywyn, Gwynedd, a mother-of-four who has seen two of her children benefit from the Foundation Phase said she would be "disappointed" if it wasn't rolled out across Wales. | |
| "I would be disappointed just from the experience with my children," she said. | |
| "I think they have a happier experience when they go in and play - they learn through that play they can go outside and experiment with all sorts of materials, it's just much more exciting. | |
| "I think it's been very positive for them. They have enjoyed the experience, they have come into a classroom and had lots of opportunities to learn through playing at different stations instead of sitting at a table." | |
| She added: "They socialise more with children I think and I think it develops their confidence." | |
| Flagship scheme | |
| The assembly government had previously allocated £107m to the project, which moves away from traditional classroom teaching to learning through play-based and outdoor activities. | The assembly government had previously allocated £107m to the project, which moves away from traditional classroom teaching to learning through play-based and outdoor activities. |
| It requires a much higher ratio of staff to pupils than usual, at one teacher per eight children. | It requires a much higher ratio of staff to pupils than usual, at one teacher per eight children. |
| Teachers in Wales say the scheme is up to £15m short for the coming academic year. | Teachers in Wales say the scheme is up to £15m short for the coming academic year. |
| Dr Chris Howard, vice-president of the National Association of Headteachers, said it was essential the programme was delivered properly. | |
| "It's not simply another funding crisis - this is the flagship scheme of the early devolution government. It's been trumpeted across the UK, it's been trumpeted across Europe and if it's not it's not delivererd properly then it does become a very tarnished jewel in the crown." | |
| In March, a report by the Association of Directors of Education in Wales (Adew) seen by BBC News said only £41m of the £107m promised over three years was new money. | |
| Last week, the assembly's finance committee began to scrutinise the scheme's funding after concerns were expressed by education professionals. | Last week, the assembly's finance committee began to scrutinise the scheme's funding after concerns were expressed by education professionals. |