Open Kindergartens originated in Nordic countries and are a long-standing type of parental and family support.
They provide spaces for groups of parents, carers and young children to meet regularly and be supported by highly-qualified early years staff to develop parents’ skills, confidence and knowledge.
The project is being led by national parenting charity, Parenting Across Scotland, alongside Midlothian Sure Start, the Open University – who will conduct the evaluation – and Children in Scotland who will develop learning materials for professionals with the Scottish Government’s Whole Family Wellbeing Fund funding it.
Work began to introduce an Open Kindergarten model to Scotland in 2018, and in 2020 the project partners carried out successful pilots to test the approach in Midlothian and Edinburgh.
The new phase will see Open Kindergartens trialled in new locations across the Lothians, with it hoped that learning from the phase will support further expansion across other areas of Scotland.
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Marking the launch, Amy Woodhouse, Chief Executive of Parenting across Scotland said: “Parenting across Scotland is excited to be leading this new phase of the Open Kindergarten project, bringing this approach to new communities across the Lothians and responding to the varied needs of parents and carers of babies and young children.
“We know from our previous pilot that parents really valued the safe, supportive and non-stigmatising space Open Kindergartens provide. Through this new project we hope to better understand how Open Kindergartens can work in different settings and localities, so more families are able to benefit.’
David Mackay, Head of Policy, Projects and Participation at Children in Scotland said: “Children in Scotland is pleased to be supporting a new phase in the roll-out of the Open Kindergarten approach. Being a parent or carer can be challenging and isolating, and most parents will need some form of support during this journey.
“Open Kindergartens provide important practical and wellbeing-focused community-based support for parents and carers. They also offer key play, development and socialisation opportunities for babies and young children. We are delighted to see this model grow as there is an increasing focus here in Scotland on what good holistic whole family support looks like.”
Dr Hannah Hale, Department of Psychology and Counselling, The Open University, said: “It is a privilege for the Open University to have the opportunity to oversee an evaluation of this phase of the Open Kindergarten project.
“The evaluation will enable insights into the effectiveness and impact of this approach to supporting parents and carers of babies and young children. It also aims to provide ideas for how the implementation of Open Kindergartens can be extended across Scotland.”
Cheryl Brown, CEO of Midlothian Sure Start said: “Midlothian Sure Start are delighted to be supporting the next phase in the expansion of the Open Kindergarten model.
“Open Kindergarten provides a sustainable model to continue to deliver parent-led, rights-based family learning to all parents. The model aligns well with our values and ethos of providing high quality relationship based services.”
