Early Learning and Childcare Applications – 2026/2027

Online applications for Early Learning and Childcare places will open on Monday 16th February 2026 and close at midnight on Friday 27th February.

If your child’s date of birth is on or between 1st March 2023 and 29th February 2024, he or she will be eligible for a funded place as set out below.

Where a child’s birthday falls on or between the following dates: The child will become eligible from the terms set out below
1 March – 31 August August (autumn term) occurring in that year
1 September – 31 December January (spring term) following their birthday
1 January – last day February April (summer term) following their birthday

If your child is already enrolled in an Early Childhood Centre, you need not apply.

Should you require any assistance, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Our first monthly round up of 2026

January has been a busy month for all.

We welcomed 11 new children and families into the centre, as well as our new Equity and Excellence Practitioner and 4 college students who we will continue to support to  settle over the coming weeks. We  were involved in a very successful authority audit, offered a parent workshop and staff have been busy creating Personal Learning Plans for our January starts ahead of our Settling In meetings next Wednesday. (If you are still to book your time for this, please do so at pick up time today or phone in to choose one).

Now for all the fun experiences that the children have been exploring 🙂

Please click on each of the links below to find out more and look through our photos from each of our different rooms and areas 🙂 (Families within our Voes playroom can find their photos on individual Learning Journals weekly)

Go to this Sway

 

Go to this Sway

 

Go to this Sway

 

Go to this Sway

Have a great weekend everyone 🙂

 

PARENT WORKSHOP – with Leoni and Julie T

Join Leoni and Julie T on Monday 26th January at 9am to find out more about how you can support your child with the use of visuals and Makaton.  This workshop will be of a huge benefit to parents of children who perhaps require some support with language and communication, as well as support with daily transitions and routines – however it is not only for the above parents. Visuals and Makaton support all. Both sit within our Improvement Plan this year and the full ECC have been learning Makaton, so why not learn a little too?

Please complete the link below to allow us to set up the room accordingly.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=oyzTzM4Wj0KVQTctawUZKRqhoaEMY8FHkTJQGETc2XZUOVlBVzNaNEw1NkJVNzdLTk1QWUw2TTdXNy4u

Visuals in the ECC boost comprehension, memory and focus by providing permanent, easily processed information that supports all learners. They help structure routines, facilitate transitions, encourage communication and engage students in deeper learning through tools like mind maps and diagrams. 

Makaton in early years boosts communication, reduces frustration and fosters inclusion by combining signs, symbols and speech, helping all children develop language, attention, memory and social skills, making learning more accessible and building confidence for those with communication challenges and their peers. It provides a visual support system that enhances understanding, vocabulary and cognitive development, leading to better engagement and stronger peer relationships in nursery settings. 

Leoni and Julie T’s Parent Workshop – Communication for all – Fill in form

We hope to see you there 🙂

Dates for your Diary Jan – June 2026

Please see below for important dates for your diary from January to June 2026.

Dates for your diary Jan – June 2026

A paper copy will also be displayed in the ECC corridor for ease.

A separate calendar is also available for school transition events.

Please note that are dates are subject to change however if dates/times do change due to unforeseen circumstances we will inform parents ASAP via our ECC APP.

Transition from Catrine ECC to Catrine Primary School 2026

As you all know, enrolment for P1 is open this week for any child due to start school in August this year.

With this in mind, we would like to share our transition calendar with you to enable you to make plans for any changes to drops and/or picks. This will also allow you the chance to find out what opportunities your child will have over the coming months and to talk to them about it (click link at bottom of post)

Your child will be issued with a letter by the end of the week indicating what group they will be in.

Our Literacy, Numeracy and Health and Wellbeing sessions are open to all pre-schoolers regardless of the school they are enrolling for, if you would like them to attend. If you would rather they did not attend these sessions, please make your child’s keyworker or Alana aware.

Please note – Dates for any transition events from other feeder schools will come directly from them.

ECC to P1 Parent Dates for your Diary 25-26

 

Dates will also be displayed in ECC corridor for ease.

New Students!

We are so fortunate to be welcoming three new students to our nursery over the next week, who will be with us every week until mid-June.

Allow me to introduce…

 

Kirsty Harper who will be joining us on Tuesdays.

(Photograph to follow)

 

Cailyn Robertson

Cailyn Robertson will be joining us on Wednesdays.

Megan McCracken

And Megan McCracken will be joining us on Thursdays.

 

We hope they feel very welcome into our Catrine family and look forward to having them onboard with us!!

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