As part of our improvement plan at Boddam ELC, we have been working hard this session on raising attainment in literacy. We have had a focus on developing phonological awareness skills using assessment feedback from P1. We have also been thinking of ways to get children interested and motivated in literacy learning. EYP Mrs Alexander’s Mum knitted a very special teddy for nursery, and the children called him Boddam Gruffalo. Project Boddam Gruffalo was born!

The children have been busy creating their very own Boddam Gruffalo story and have been drawing and describing their character, planning where to take Boddam Gruffalo on our outings, thinking about how we keep Boddam Gruffalo safe in the community and drawing/writing a thank you card for the Little Lighthouse Bakes Cake Shed owners. Boddam Gruffalo has been joining us on our nursery outings and visiting all the lovely places in Boddam with the children. We have linked our learning across the curriculum to enhance and maximise the children’s learning experiences. We visited the local shop to buy some things for snack which tied into our intentional planning around money, we visited the local harbour to see the boats and through stones in the water looking at safety in the community, we visited the local lighthouse and learned how the Boddam lighthouse keeps the boats safe and we visited a very special local cake shed where the owner had made some yummy treats for the children!

We created a special presentation of the children’s work including their voice telling their Boddam Gruffalo story and describing their activities and presented this recently to the whole school at a special Nursery Learning Assembly. The children all earned Certificates of Achievement against the school and nursery values. The children have all taken part in this project, and it has inspired the children in all aspects of literacy learning.

We are planning on sharing the presentation with all the parents when they join us in nursery for an end of term celebration at the end of the month.