Speaking at a conference on outdoor play last week, she said that the new framework, which the DfES team will start to work on soon, will draw together the Birth to Three Framework and the Foundation Stage, and 'will be much more explicit about the key role of outdoors'.
Other speakers at 'Creating places for children', run by Learning through Landscapes and Early Education, and supported by Nursery World, included Marjorie Ouvry, Helen Bilton, Margaret Edgington and Claire Warden, all well-known for their championing of outdoor play.
The conference aimed to raise awareness of the importance and value of outdoor play for all children. Key themes included children's right to quality exper- iences outside every day, the need for adults to observe and listen to children, children's need for risk and challenge, and the vital role played by knowledgeable adults who understand the potential for learning outside.