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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| First pupils start new curriculum | First pupils start new curriculum |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The first generation of children to follow "ground-breaking" play-based learning in Wales is starting school. | The first generation of children to follow "ground-breaking" play-based learning in Wales is starting school. |
| The foundation phase includes classes outdoors and experience of the environment. It starts with three and four year olds and extends up to the age of seven. | The foundation phase includes classes outdoors and experience of the environment. It starts with three and four year olds and extends up to the age of seven. |
| Education Minister Jane Hutt said it was a "radical new way of learning". | Education Minister Jane Hutt said it was a "radical new way of learning". |
| But a teaching union said staff were under "enormous pressure" to deliver, without the promised level of funding. | But a teaching union said staff were under "enormous pressure" to deliver, without the promised level of funding. |
| The foundation phase emphasises the importance of learning through play for children aged three to seven and requires a teacher pupil ratio of one to eight. We believe that the pay-off of this radical new way of learning will be long-term and its impact will be felt for many years to come Jane Hutt AM, Education Minister | |
| Ms Hutt, who later officially starts the scheme on a visit to Brynnau Primary School near Llanharan in Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: "The foundation phase takes a different approach to learning and a key feature is using the outdoors to encourage children to learn about conservation and the environment. | Ms Hutt, who later officially starts the scheme on a visit to Brynnau Primary School near Llanharan in Rhondda Cynon Taf, said: "The foundation phase takes a different approach to learning and a key feature is using the outdoors to encourage children to learn about conservation and the environment. |
| "In Wales we are lucky to have a fantastic outdoors and children will discover their environment, the seasons and the weather by exploring fields, woodlands and the outdoors looking for bugs and wildlife," she added. | "In Wales we are lucky to have a fantastic outdoors and children will discover their environment, the seasons and the weather by exploring fields, woodlands and the outdoors looking for bugs and wildlife," she added. |
| Ms Hutt said they had drawn on experiences in Denmark, New Zealand and Italy and believed the "radical new way of learning" would have a long-term impact. | Ms Hutt said they had drawn on experiences in Denmark, New Zealand and Italy and believed the "radical new way of learning" would have a long-term impact. |
| The school's head teacher Vanessa McCarthy said she welcomed the changes. | The school's head teacher Vanessa McCarthy said she welcomed the changes. |
| "I think that the principles of the foundation phase are to be applauded and the potential benefits will be significant." | "I think that the principles of the foundation phase are to be applauded and the potential benefits will be significant." |
| "It's active learning, it's learning through first hand experience and it's much more meaningful to children," she said. | "It's active learning, it's learning through first hand experience and it's much more meaningful to children," she said. |
| But Iwan Guy, the acting director of the headteachers' union NAHT Cymru said a lack of funding meant Wales was in danger of having a "mix and match system". | But Iwan Guy, the acting director of the headteachers' union NAHT Cymru said a lack of funding meant Wales was in danger of having a "mix and match system". |
| "We thoroughly endorse the foundation phase but it has to be implemented with the full resources we were promised." | "We thoroughly endorse the foundation phase but it has to be implemented with the full resources we were promised." |
| "There's an expectation that schools will deliver a Rolls-Royce system but they're only prepared to fund us for a small family saloon." | "There's an expectation that schools will deliver a Rolls-Royce system but they're only prepared to fund us for a small family saloon." |
| "Frankly it's not good enough for the children of Wales." | "Frankly it's not good enough for the children of Wales." |
| "I give credit to Jane Hutt. She has been listening. We do not hold Jane Hutt responsible for the situation we are in," he added. | "I give credit to Jane Hutt. She has been listening. We do not hold Jane Hutt responsible for the situation we are in," he added. |
| The shadow education minister Andrew Davies AM said the Welsh Conservatives were "fully supportive" of the scheme but warned the assembly government not to be complacent. | The shadow education minister Andrew Davies AM said the Welsh Conservatives were "fully supportive" of the scheme but warned the assembly government not to be complacent. |
| They are far far more relaxed and happy and I think the staff would say they are as well. Alison Matthias, Ysgol Emmanuel | They are far far more relaxed and happy and I think the staff would say they are as well. Alison Matthias, Ysgol Emmanuel |
| "The full roll-out of the foundation phase has been delayed because the assembly government got its sums wrong," he said. | "The full roll-out of the foundation phase has been delayed because the assembly government got its sums wrong," he said. |
| "This has caused a great deal of uncertainty and disruption for parents, pupils and teachers." | "This has caused a great deal of uncertainty and disruption for parents, pupils and teachers." |
| The new early years curriculum has already been trialled at over 80 schools, nurseries and playgroups around Wales. | The new early years curriculum has already been trialled at over 80 schools, nurseries and playgroups around Wales. |
| Nursery and reception pupils at Ysgol Emmanuel in Rhyl have been following the new scheme since last September. | Nursery and reception pupils at Ysgol Emmanuel in Rhyl have been following the new scheme since last September. |
| The school's deputy head teacher, Alison Matthias, said she was pleased with the children's progress. | The school's deputy head teacher, Alison Matthias, said she was pleased with the children's progress. |
| "They are far far more relaxed and happy and I think the staff would say they are as well." | "They are far far more relaxed and happy and I think the staff would say they are as well." |
| "You've got to realise, as with everything else, you have to be prepared for the tears as well as the smiles." | "You've got to realise, as with everything else, you have to be prepared for the tears as well as the smiles." |
| But she added it was important to make sure that children learned all the required skills. | But she added it was important to make sure that children learned all the required skills. |
| "I was very vocal in saying if our standards go down we are stopping this, but in fact our standards didn't go down, they went up," she added. | "I was very vocal in saying if our standards go down we are stopping this, but in fact our standards didn't go down, they went up," she added. |