Tuesday June 2nd 2026
Glasgow City Chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Catherine Hunter
Work to introduce play-based learning in Glasgow schools and early learning centres while meeting the needs of pupils with additional support needs is being carried out by the city council.
A report being presented to members of the education committee this week shows how the Play Pedagogy approach to learning and teaching integrates children’s play experiences with curricular learning while encouraging children to play, explore and learn.
The idea is to engage children in meaningful activities that develop holistic skills, preparing them to adapt and thrive as lifelong learners in a changing world.
Play Pedagogy supports Glasgow’s ambition to be a world-class learning city, founded on nurture principles, and ensuring inclusive and quality education for all learners.
It also helps educators to meet a diverse range of needs while acknowledging that all babies and young children develop their individual skills and knowledge and at different rates according to who they are.
As it stands there are 110 ELC (early learning centres) with approximately 2000 staff, 143 primary schools, 21 stand-alone ASL establishments and 35 co-located ASL provisions and 30 secondary schools across Glasgow.
The Education (Additional Support for Learning) Act 2004, often referred to as the ASL Act, introduces a new legal framework for supporting children and young people who require some additional support with their learning in nurseries and schools.
Glasgow City Council is committed to closing the attainment gap and giving its children and young people the widest range of opportunities to achieve.
They are committed to tackling the effects of poverty and disadvantage and the potentially negative impact this has for children and young people.
Planning Personalised Pathways guidance supports practitioners across the city to plan for learners with complex additional support needs.
This guidance states that for learners with complex additional support needs, opportunities to learn through play are critical to learning about life and the world around them.
The council has now been asked to approve the continuation of this approach and embed it across ELC and primary.
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