Media release –  25/8/10

Scottish award discovers a special schoolbag which makes learning possible
While many children here in Scotland are happy to leave school behind at the end of the day, for young people in Mali, the opposite is true. With access to education being far from easy for children in the West African country, a revolutionary ‘Transportable Classroom’, complete with a wooden board to write on, a seat, table and storage for pens and books, has revolutionised learning. All that is needed is a teacher, and schooling can take place anywhere.

This innovative creation is among the shortlisted entries for Children in Scotland’s ‘Making Space 2010’ international architecture award, which will reward a building or space for children and young people which is well-designed, multi-functional and, most importantly, which works for children – and families – in the local community.

Other finalists for the prestigious award, which saw entries coming from 25 countries worldwide, include ‘The Puckelball Pitch’, an interactive art project from Sweden, which features an uneven playing surface, and pitch-halves and goals of different sizes, to represent the ‘playground of life’ which is frequently unfair and unequal, and a modernised German elementary school, which consulted with its pupils to create an inspiring learning environment.

With the shortlist chosen by a team which included international design experts, the final ‘Grand Prix’ winner will now be selected by the panel on 8 September, along with the best entry from Scotland, a winner selected by a panel of children, and six entries specially commended by the judges. The final results, however, will be kept under wraps for another month, until the awards are presented by Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Mike Russell at a ceremony on 7 October, as part of the ‘Making Space’ international conference.

The award judges admitted that the selection process was tough, with so many innovative and unique examples of buildings and spaces which fulfilled the criteria of:

• engaging the five senses of the users
• incorporating the natural world, sustainability, and relating to the local environment
• allowing for participation and stakeholder involvement, from children, their families and the community
• being part of the community and offering facilities for community members, and
• demonstrating an integrative approach to children’s services.

Alan Blackie, Chief Executive of East Lothian Council, and a member of the award panel said:“Being one of the judges of this prestigious international competition has been really interesting, with each of the 75 varied entries from around the world demonstrating, in their own way, the value of having great spaces for young people and the community.”
Fellow judge, and Director with RMJM architects, Paul Stallan, agreed: “The shortlist demonstrates that even projects delivered on minimum budget can be life-enhancing when a determination exists to simply make a difference.”

Children in Scotland Chief Executive, Bronwen Cohen, who was also on the judging panel expressed her delight in the breadth of creativity shown in the entries: “The need to create flexible, practical, and ‘personalised’ spaces is evident. From the mobile school in Mali, to examples of schools in Scotland which were developed with the requirements of the Scottish curriculum at their heart, the award finalists all demonstrate unique qualities.”

Notes for Editors –

Children in Scotland is the longstanding national agency for the whole of the children’s sector, reaching over 250,000 individuals through our extensive membership of more than 450 statutory agencies, voluntary sector organisations, professional associations and community groups. For further information visit www.childreninscotland.org.uk

‘Making Space 2010’ is a one year programme, led by Children in Scotland, which includes an international award and conference promoting innovation, creativity and sustainability in design for children and young people aged 0-18.
The conference will take place from 7-8 October, in Edinburgh. Chaired by Seona Reid, Director, Glasgow School of Art, it will include presentations from architects and design specialists from Scotland, the UK, and internationally.

For further information visit www.childreninscotland.org.uk/makingspace or contact Hannah Goodrum, hgoodrum@childreninscotland.org.uk
For more information, images of award entries, or press space at the conference, please contact Lynn Gilmour, lgilmour@childreninscotland.org.uk, 0131 222 2443.

 

March 2010

You are where you’re born

How supporting a sense of place can make children’s services more effective

New European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth Androulla Vassiliou believes that effective early childhood education and care is vital in helping the European Union meet its strategic goals over the next 10 years.

In the latest magazine from Children in Europe, A Sense of Place: environments, community and services for young children she said:

“Early childhood education and care have a vital contribution to make to the European Union’s strategic goals over the next decade as part of the ‘Europe 2020’ agenda, which will shape the Europe of the future. They are a core element in promoting economic sustainability and social cohesion. Rural areas in particular can benefit from new and innovative thinking in this area and I encourage Member States to learn from each other through shared experience. I will be working closely with my fellow Commissioners and national authorities to find ways in which we can achieve higher standards of education and care throughout Europe.”

Place and community are fundamental in shaping children’s lives, and services are more effective when they identify with the communities they serve. Rooting services in what is local not only makes them more relevant but also nurtures and supports the community as a whole.

How place-based, family and intergenerational learning can help tackle problems of service delivery in scattered rural communities, and reduced access to natural environments in urban areas is described in a range of international settings including:

 

• Farm kindergartens in Italy and Norway
• Family and intergenerational learning in England
• Roma children in Croatia
• Growing up in rural Poland.

 

There is also an exclusive interview with Scottish artist John Bellany who points to his east coast upbringing as a permanent influence on his life and work.

The magazine’s Editor Bronwen Cohen, of Children in Scotland, said:

“Solutions need to be local, but service providers can learn from experience and practice in other countries. Funding from the European Union has encouraged innovation in some European countries in tackling the challenges to effective service provision presented by geography and changing social and economic patterns, particularly in rural areas. A more systematic approach is now required across Europe to enable effective cross-learning.”

Secretary General of Eurochild Jana Hainsworth said:
“At the heart of Europe’s new 2020 vision is the concept of innovation. The examples in Children in Europe show that innovation is not just a domain of industry and science. It is crucial in the children’s sector too. Let’s be inspired and combine our efforts to ensure children’s rights and wellbeing take centre stage in the future of Europe.”

Director of Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) Pauline Leeson added her support:

“Historically place and identify have divided people and communities in Northern Ireland; but as we continue to shake off the shroud of conflict and sectarianism we look to our leaders in political life who now have an opportunity to work together in a spirit of trust and co-operation to establish an effective integrated early childhood education and care system that embraces the local integrated solutions that are providing a better start for our children”

Martha Friendly, Executive Director of Childcare Resource and Research Unit in Toronto, Canada

“The most recent issue of Children in Europe, A Sense of Place: Environments, Community and Services for Young Children is a tremendous resource for the Canadian early childhood field. Canada – with our diverse regions and population, rural and remote communities, and cities and towns where access to natural environments for young children may not be easy – can gain much from the depth of knowledge about early childhood that experts in Europe have gained over the years”.