Risky Play, Water Fun & Chatterbox!

July 24, 2026UncategorizedMs Walker

This week in the block area the children have been exploring risky play through use of the big blocks. They demonstrated excellent turn taking skills and risk assessed their play to enable positive risks.The children also explored smaller scale builds using the dollhouse, train tracks,and magna tiles which we will extend into next week as we explore a variety of microcosims.

In baking this week the children have been baking their own apple crumble. They have been exploring new techniques and skills throughout this recipe including measuring using spoons and scales, learning to rub together butter and flour to create breadcrumbs and chopping fruit to put in the crumble. The children also learned about safety whilst using utensils to chop the fruit.

This week we have also been enjoying lots of trips in the local community. We have been having lots of fun visiting Fairweather Park.

In the outdoor classroom we have been exploring water play. We used various jugs to transport the water and discussed capacity when discussing full/empty.

The children explored digital creativity in the malleable area by using the ChatterBox app on the iPad to bring their playdough creations to life. They discovered that the app can make any picture appear to talk by adding an animated mouth. The children recorded their own voices, choosing different words and phrases for their creations to say. Watching their models come to life was met with lots of excitement, laughter and conversation as they experimented with different recordings. This fun activity encouraged creativity, communication and confidence while introducing the children to digital technology in an engaging and meaningful way.

Beach Party Fun!

July 17, 2026UncategorizedR McIntosh

The children had a fantastic time at our annual Beach party! The nursery garden was transformed into a fun filled seaside adventure, with lots of opportunities for laughter, exploration and play.

The Children spent the day dancing along to music, splashing in the paddling pools, zooming down the water slide and having fun in the foam party. There were lots of smiles, giggles and happy memories made as everyone enjoyed the sunshine and the chance to cool off with a delicious ice pole treat.

Some of the children say the highlight of the Party was getting to pour buckers of water over Mr Mcintosh-McLean as he usually gets them with the hose.

Our Beach Party was a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop their confidence, physical skills and friendships through active outdoor play, while enjoying a fun shared experience together.

Pom poms, Paint &Dinosaurs!

July 10, 2026UncategorizedMs Walker

This week the children have been interested in making pompom jewellery. They have been extending their fine motor skills to wrap the wool around the pom pom maker. The children have been engaged for an extended period of time and had the option to create small pom poms or larger pom poms. They have shown patience while waiting for their turn and have used a waiting list to add their name to so they know who is next to make one.

The children have been sharing the resources and have played alongside each other to create large scale artwork. They used rollers and brushes of different sizes to make patterns and marks with the paint. They also used the sponges to print various shapes, and some children decided to paint their hands or fingers and pressed these on to the paper also.

This week the children have also been doing lots of baking with Miss Smith. They followed the recipe and measured the ingredients to make some cakes. They were most excited to take them home and eat them!

We also had lots of fun during a trip to the Avenue to see the Dinosaur Exhibition.

Outdoors in the garden we have been exploring lots of sensory play with the water and sea animals , using the guttering pipes to transport the water.

Construction, Intelino & Clay!

July 2, 2026UncategorizedMs Walker

In the block area, the children have been continuing to explore large scale buildings and adding detail to them. They have been continuing to extend their learning by transporting figures from the small world area to explore role play opportunities. This has developed children’s communication skills as they have been taking on various roles within their play, demonstrating creative and imaginative skills.

The children recently explored early coding and storytelling through the use of Intelino smart train tiles. This hands-on experience allowed them to investigate how different coloured tiles influenced the train’s movement, supporting their understanding of sequencing, cause and effect, and early computational thinking.

Initially, the children spent time experimenting with the tiles to discover what each colour represented. They quickly became engaged in testing ideas, observing how the train responded when different combinations were placed on the track. This open-ended exploration encouraged curiosity, problem-solving, and collaboration.

Building on this learning, the children then used a selection of visual prompts, including images of the nursery, a zoo, and various zoo animals, to create their own narrative journey. The activity developed into a rich storytelling experience as the children collaboratively constructed a “day trip to the zoo” story.

Using the tiles, they programmed the train to follow their story sequence: stopping at the nursery, travelling faster along open sections, slowing down as it passed the crocodile, stopping to feed the elephant, and carefully passing the lion. This helped the children connect physical actions with imaginative storytelling, reinforcing their understanding of sequencing in a meaningful context.

One child naturally emerged as a leader, confidently supporting peers by explaining what each tile sequence did and guiding the group’s decisions. This demonstrated strong communication skills, confidence, and a developing understanding of early coding language.

Overall, the experience provided a rich blend of STEM learning, creativity, and collaborative play, allowing the children to explore technology in a purposeful and engaging way.

The children have also been mark making with the clay.Some of the children scribed their initials or attempted scribing words. Whilst other children drew pictures on the clay and decorated them with some loose parts!

Garden Parties!

June 26, 2026UncategorizedMrs Scoular

Our Garden Parties were a wonderful way to celebrate our preschool children as they prepare to leave us for their next adventure. We were incredibly lucky with the beautiful sunshine, making it the perfect setting to welcome parents and families to join us for this special occasion.

The children sang their songs beautifully, filling everyone with pride, and it was lovely to celebrate together and create such happy memories in the sunshine. Thank you to all our families for joining us and making the week so special.

We’ve included a few photos below for you to enjoy, although we know many of you captured lots of wonderful moments of your own to treasure from this very special day.

Good luck to all our pre-schoolers on their next adventure to Primary 1!

Sports Week!

June 12, 2026UncategorizedMrs Scoular

Our children had a fantastic time during Sports Week, joined by parents for a fun-filled afternoon/morning of activities. Although the weather wasn’t always on our side, it certainly didn’t dampen our spirits! Everyone embraced the changing conditions with smiles and enthusiasm, showing great resilience and teamwork throughout the events.

Children and parents worked their way around six different activity stations, developing a range of physical skills before coming together for some exciting team races. It was wonderful to see our parents being such good sports, enthusiastically joining in and encouraging the children every step of the way!

Participating in sports and active play from an early age helps children develop coordination, balance, confidence, and social skills, while also promoting healthy lifestyles and positive attitudes towards physical activity. We are so proud of all our children for their effort and determination, and we would like to thank our families for helping make Sports Week such a memorable and enjoyable experience for everyone.

Planting, Puddle Jumping and Tea for Two!

June 5, 2026UncategorizedMrs Scoular

Our pre-school children have been taking part in transition groups to help prepare them for their exciting move to primary school. During these sessions, we have been talking all about their new schools, sharing thoughts and feelings, and building confidence for this important next step.

The children enjoyed looking at photographs of their new school environments and exploring what they might expect when they start. We discussed emotions around the transition, encouraging the children to talk about how they feel and ask questions. They also had the opportunity to look at school uniforms and chat about what they will wear when they begin school.

A lovely part of the experience was drawing pictures alongside friends who will be attending the same school. This helped the children make connections, share their excitement, and feel reassured knowing familiar faces will be with them on their new journey.

These transition groups provide valuable opportunities for children to become familiar with their new schools, develop confidence, and support a smooth and positive transition into primary school!

This week our pre school children and their parents were cordially invited to be our guests at a special transition tea for two. These were planned to allow families moving onto the same schools to meet and mingle, whilst enjoying a little afternoon tea on us! Here are some lovely pictures of the event!

This week the children have been working on their gross motor skills and big movements, we have been jumping in puddles, playing with parachutes and riding bikes. We have had discussions about how we keep safe on the bikes and out in the road.

“You need to look both ways when crossing the road” M.L

“Red light stop!” C.M

“Green light means go” D.M

“I need a helmet to go on the bikes, to keep my head safe” A.L

“Look at this big splash.” S.D

“CANONBALL” A.K

“It’s windy outside” H.S

“The parachute goes really high” H.Mc

The children have also been planting! We are going to keep their plants here for a little while to watch them grow and then they can take them home! We have been talking about the parts of the plants and what they need to grow!

AF – We put the mud in then flatten them then the seed and water it will make them grow.

DM – It needs mud because its really thirsty

AV – They need water to grow potatoes

MGS – I’ve already planted sunflower seeds in my garden. They’ve already sprouted.

AK – You get soil and put a hole in it then pit the seed in and cover with soil and we plant it and water it. Then a flower will grow.

NF – They need sweets and water.

FM – A seed needs water to grow.

TO’H – It needs water and 5 minutes

ZA – They need water and sunlight that’s it then they turn into a flower.

SS – Water and sunlight and the rain makes sunflowers grow.