Perth primary school allows kids to go barefoot

Inglewood Primary School will give kids the chance to ditch their shoes.  Photo credit: Justin Benson-Cooper

by Bethany Hiatt

Pre-schoolers at a Perth primary school will be allowed to go barefoot if they feel like it under a policy being introduced next year.

Announcing the move in a recent newsletter, Inglewood Primary School said being barefoot helped children improve posture, develop sensory awareness and strengthen their feet and body.

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Nature Play chief executive Griffin Longley urged more schools to consider similar policies because allowing children to remove their shoes provided a “trigger” for play.

“They’re literally stepping out of the normal rules and rigour of school, and they’re being invited to be creative and to move,” he said.

Mr Longley added that highlighting the policy in a direct communication to parents clearly showed what the school valued.

“It’s very easy to value cleanliness and making sure no one gets a stubbed toe or picks up a prickle, but they’re choosing to value the kids’ broader wellbeing,” he said.

Read the full story at PerthNow