National School Grounds Week

EDM number 834 in 1999-00, proposed by Clive Efford on 09/06/2000.

That this House believes that the quality of school grounds is an important factor in children's development; notes that 66 per cent. of junior school children who participated in a recent survey, commissioned by the educational charity, Learning through Landscapes, claimed that playing in their school grounds actually reduces stress and anxiety, that two-thirds of children said that the playground was the best place to make friends, and that 36 per cent. said playing in their school grounds makes them feel happiest at school; believes that National School Grounds Week 2000, organised by Learning through Landscapes and drawing attention to the schools which develop and manage their school grounds in various innovative ways, has made a real difference to the educational and social development value of school grounds in all parts of the country; believes further that improving school grounds has a positive impact on the lives of thousands of children and their families and contributes to raising standards in schools; and calls on honourable Members to provide support for participating schools in their constituencies by visiting the school to see for themselves how improvements in design and management of their grounds benefit children and local communities.

This motion has been signed by a total of 72 MPs.