Happy Halloween everyone

Click on our link below to see some Spooky pictures from the ECC

Halloween Party

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Click on each link below to find out what has been going on within our 3-5 playrooms this month 🙂

(Our Voes room will continue to see weekly photo updates on their child’s Learning Journals as well as their individual monthly story)

Pirates and Potions with Lesleyanne and Corrie outdoors

Pirates and potions

In the outdoor area this past month, we have been exploring pirates in our role play area. We have investigated an array of materials and resources in the mud kitchen area, whilst we made …

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Abby had a colourful time in The Brig

Exploring colour

In the Brig the children have been exploring colour and different sensory experiences the children have been using different resources such as spray bottles, stamps, light up boards, chalk …

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Roll up, roll up. Carrie’s room was putting on shows for their peers and exploring shadows in The Mill

Welcome to our puppet shows

In the month of October we have been taking part in drama experiences. We started off using the puppet theatre with hand/ finger puppets and put on our own shows. We then added masks, hats …

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“What is our mission today?” The Square was fighting crime with Sherrie.

Superheroes

The children have been taking on the role as superheroes over the past few weeks. They have used the dressing up resources, figures, vehicles and playdoh to develop their creative skills. O…

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Changing seasons within our Greenspace alongside Leoni

Greenspace Planning

Over the month of October the children have been exploring Autumn in greenspace. To do this we have:-

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ANOTHER FAB MONTH IN CATRINE ECC 🙂 

Michelle is kicking off our first parent workshop of the year.

FRIDAY 7th NOVEMBER FROM 9AM – 10AM

As a staff team, we are continuously aiming to improve the service in which we can offer to our families.

Through self evaluation tasks and parent/carer feedback from questionnaires,  our goal is to ensure that parent/carers feel involved in the centre and understand how they can best support their child.

Each month, a different ELCP leads a workshop relating to their leadership area.

Michelle has a great understanding and wealth of knowledge in SCHEMATIC PLAY. The benefits of understanding this style of play can offer amazing learning experiences and she wants to share this with you as parents.

This session will be a mix of both adult information and time to be active with your child.

Please complete the form below by Wednesday 5th November to allow her to set up accordingly for the numbers attending (book in fast as we may need to cap it once it gets to higher numbers).

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=oyzTzM4Wj0KVQTctawUZKRqhoaEMY8FHkTJQGETc2XZUM1FMRDdNVkFFWTJCMFYzOEpNSDVTS1RUNC4u

We are delighted to introduce to you, and welcome Meg Dickinson.

Meg is our new clerical assistant who will be working on a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Rebecca will continue to work Monday’s and Tuesday’s).

We hope you enjoy being part of our team here at Catrine ECC Meg 🙂

Our super talented ELCP Carrie has been busy making up a special Halloween balloon full of special treats (courtesy of the staff team)

Raffle tickets will go on sale tomorrow  with the winner being drawn in time for Halloween 🙂

All profits made will be used towards Christmas events for the children 🙂

Every month each  ELCP (Early Learning and Childcare Practitioner) creates a SWAY link allowing parent/carers to find out about some of the experiences that have been on offer within the areas both indoors and out.

Each link below opens up different photos and a short summary of their planning  for the month.  Our main focus throughout our first planning cycle of the new year was around rules, routines, safety and building relationships.

On Monday our ELCPs will move to their new area for the month of October.

Please click on each of the links below to find out more.

CARRIE – OUTDOORS (GREENSPACE)

Expressive Arts outdoors

This month we have been exploring expressive arts outdoors. We took part in a range of messy, arts and craft and music experiences. We explored spray painting, splat , dabbers, painting box…

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CORRIE/LESLEYANNE – THE BRIG 

Marvellous Me – Emotions and Respectful Relationships

Within the Brig we have been introducing positive relationships, emotions and learning all about me. We have been learning about families, how each is different using a home link, encouragi…

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LEONI – THE SQUARE

Rules and Routine

In the month of September in the Square the children have been introduced and have been familiarising themselves with the snack routine and the general rules within the ECC.

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JULIE N – THE MILL

Learning how to keep our self safe in the Nursery.

This month in The Mill we have been focusing on the rules in the Nursery. The children have been learning what they think the rules should be and looking at what our main rules are within t…

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ABBY – OUTDOORS (LANDSCAPE AREA)

Mud Kitchen

In the mud kitchen the children have been using a range of different utensils to pour, fill and mix. They used bowls, cup, pots and pans. The children have had the opportunity to chop and c…

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MICHELLE & JULIE T – THE VOES

The Voes – September Planning Cycle.

02/09/25

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September – December 2025

We know it can be difficult getting information last minute (especially for parent sessions and events such as Halloween dress up etc) therefore, where possible we always try to put information out as early as possible.

Please click below to see important dates and events from now until Christmas.

Dates for your diary September to December 2025

Please note if any further events are added or dates/times need to be changed, this information will be posted on our ECC APP.

Please ensure you check this regularly and you have notifications turned on to allow alerts to pop up each time we upload to it.

Christine is our Community Practitioner for the centre.

Part of her role is to support families with aspects of home life.

At this time of  year we always feel it is important for our families to be invited into the centre to meet Christine, find out what she can offer and take away some good tips and strategies to use in the home.

We have attached her poster for dates and times

Please complete the link below for attendance

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=oyzTzM4Wj0KVQTctawUZKRqhoaEMY8FHkTJQGETc2XZURFJQOUhRQ0gzQ0Y4SzhQUUo3NE5FWVdXWi4u

Well, it’s almost time!!!

The staff at the centre cannot wait to see all returning families back and welcome all new ones.

A few helpful points have been outlined below to support in the first few days.

• Remember to check your letter before you arrive to remind yourself of what base room your child will be in
• I can now confirm that our Butterfly keyworker will be Abby, who we welcome to the centre
• Remember to change your child’s shoes to slip on/off ones before entering the playrooms
• Give your child’s wellies and sunscreen to your child’s keyworker
• Leave a change of clothes (including socks and underwear) in your child’s drawstring bag which you will find on their peg
• Label EVERYTHING – it is a very busy and big environment therefore staff cannot always know where each child takes clothing/shoes off
• Bring any emergency medication such as inhalers and be prepared to wait to fill out the paperwork required – surgeries will prescribe an additional inhaler which can be left at the ECC. Please note no child with asthma should be in the building without an inhaler at any time
• Speak with (and trust) your child’s keyworker at the end of each day in the first few days/weeks in relation to pick up times. It is important to settle each child in on an individual basis and in the time frame that suits – even if this takes a little longer than that of their peers
• We ask that children do not bring in their own toys from home. We are happy to support children who have comforters such as small blankets or teddies that they won’t leave the house without.  However, we ask that these are placed in your child’s bag and you inform their keyworker who will take them to it if/when required during their time with us. This is the same with any dummies. Dummies can pose as serious choke hazards within an ECC setting as well as prevent opportunities to develop speech
• Please ensure your child has sunscreen on upon arrival and is always dressed appropriately for all weathers including sunhats, scarves, gloves and jacket
• Please return any paperwork you were given during your induction. If you have lost anything just let a member of staff know
• We are also delighted to welcome Corrie to the team who will be in the centre on Mondays, Tuesdays and every 2nd Wednesday.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday.

8.45am for all returners and 9.15am for all of our new children to the centre.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to phone our ECC office on Monday or Tuesday afternoon.

Alana Speirs

Depute Manager

As all of our parents know each ELCP within the centre has their own champion area that they lead. Well, Leoni has done a wonderful job this year at leading our new Sound of the Month (SOTM) initiative through her responsibility within Literacy. The children have thoroughly enjoyed learning about and developing their phonological awareness through fun and active games on a Friday.

Leoni has created a SWAY for you to see their journey and well as a short feedback form she would really appreciate if you filled in. These forms help us to adapt plans for next year and to measure impact and progress 🙂

Sound of the Month

From November to March the children have been partaking within the ‘sound of the month’ initiative, focusing on the sounds ‘s/ a/ t/ p/ i/ n’. Each month we focused on a new sound and learn…

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Leoni would really appreciate your support in completing the FORM within the link below. Thank you in advance 🙂