Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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321. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if discussions are expected to introduce more outdoor educational activities at primary school level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6583/23]

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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322. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if discussions are expected to introducing more outdoor educational activities at primary school level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6583/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together.

As the Deputy may be aware my Department will be publishing a new primary curriculum framework shortly. The Primary Curriculum Framework will set out the vision, principles and components of the redeveloped primary school curriculum. The framework links with learning experiences provided through the themes of Aistear: the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and connects with the subjects, key skills and statements of learning in the Framework for Junior Cycle. The Primary Curriculum Framework reflects a shared understanding of, and trust in, the many positive features of education in our primary and special schools, while also providing for the enhancement of learning, teaching and assessment. Drawing on work with the Schools Forum, research, and work with education partners and wider stakeholders to include teachers, school leaders, parents and guardians, the Framework highlights what is important in primary education and provides a description of what should be prioritised in children’s learning.

Pedagogies which promote active, engaged learning for all young people to include preparation of the learning environment are essential to the enactment of curriculum. The Primary Curriculum Framework includes the Learning Environment as one of the principles of learning, teaching and assessment with reference to indoor and outdoor diverse environments encouraging children’s independence and stimulating and supporting their learning. Teachers’ preparation of the learning environment, both indoor and outdoor, and the resources that will provide opportunities for the children to play, explore, inquire, experiment, and discover, are critical contributions to pedagogy. Teachers professional preparation, is supported through Preparation for Teaching and Learning - Guidance for All Primary and Special Schools (Government of Ireland, 2021).

Furthermore, the second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development – ESD to 2030, aims to ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills required to promote sustainable development. The accompanying implementation plan 2022 – 2026 includes a number of actions aimed at promoting outdoor learning. In 2022, ESD to 2030 funding was provided to schools to support the development of outdoor gardens and outdoor learning spaces. Aligned with this commitment to sustainable development is a core competency of ‘becoming an active citizen’ for children under the Primary Curriculum Framework, with learners understanding of nature and the environment is core to this.

The Primary Curriculum Framework will guide the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in developing a specification for each of the curriculum areas and their associated subjects and these specifications will be available for the 2025/2026 school year.

I hope this information is of assistance to the Deputy.