We are delighted to continue to offer our Bookbug Family Sessions. Last year we had over 90% attendance at these sessions, which was a tremendous commitment from our families.
All posts by L. Walsh
What’s on week beginning 9th September 2019
Monday 9th September 2019
Louise from Dobemindful will be meeting Siobhan and Lynn this morning to plan the next steps of our Mindful journey for parents and children.
Rainbow Room Have Your Say Consultation Meeting 1.10 pm
Details of our Family Bookbug Sessions including Story Massage will be posted very soon.
Tuesday 10th September 2019
Alehtea out of the nursery today
Lorraine will be available in the cloakroom to collect any Toy Fund Donations
Wednesday 11th September 2019
Gemma speech and language therapist will be in the nursery today
Welcome to Kayleigh, HNC Childcare and Education student from West Lothian College who has joined us today to understate her practical training. Kayleigh will be in the Rainbow Room every Wednesday and Thursday.
Thursday 12th September 2019
Parent Support Group Meeting with Isabel 11 am in the Parent Room, invited along is Jen Community Learning and Development Hime Link Worker
Lorraine will be available in the nursery to collect any Toy Fund Donations
Friday 13th September 2019
Launched today will be the September/October Newsletter. You can access it in the following ways.
TWITTER @CentreShotts
Download via Shotts Family Learning Centre BLOG page
Collect a paper copy from Lorraine in the admin office
What’s on week beginning 2nd September 2019
This week we welcome Louise who will be joining the team on a temporary capacity until Gillian returns from her maternity leave. Louise will be working a Monday & Tuesday one week, then a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday the next. She will be supporting in the early level playroom .
Joining the team also is Alethea Britton, Excellence and Equity Lead, who will be supporting the team to deliver high quality learning and teaching. Alethea will be an asset to the nursery whilst Lynn has a further period of absence commencing this week. It is anticipated that Lynn will not be returning until the end of the year.
Monday 2nd September 2019
Bumblebee Group Have your Say meetings 8.45 am and 1 pm with Susan and Shannon
Tuesday 3rd September 2019
Butterfly Group Have your Say meetings 8.45 am and 1 pm with Nicola
Lorraine will be collecting donations to the nursery fund today in the cloakroom area
Wednesday 4th September 2019
Caterpillar Group Have your Say meetings 8.45 am and 1 pm with Elaine
Gemma Kelly Speech and Language Therapist will be in the nursery today
Ann Treverrow Educational Psychologist will be in the nursery this morning
Thursday 5th September 2019
Dragonfly Group Have your Say meetings 8.45 am and 1 pm with Christine
Lorraine will be collecting donations to the nursery fund today in the cloakroom area
Friday 6th September 2019
Ladybird Group Have your Say meetings 8.45 am and 1 pm with Siobhan
What’s on week beginning the 26th August 2019
Monday 26th August 2019
Due to our Mindful Parents event could we ask that all children be collected by 3.30 pm where possible. This will ensure staff have time to prepare for the event.
Tuesday 27th August 2019
Lorraine will be in the cloakroom area to collect any toy fund donations.
Wednesday 28th August 2019
Gemma speech and language therapist will be in the nursery today.
Thursday 29th August 2019
Lorraine will be in the cloakroom to collect any toy fund donations.
Friday 30th August 2019
It will be lovely to see as many parents and carers participate in next weeks consultations. Your views really do matter in improving the life and work of the centre. We will be meeting in the Parent Room and promise it will take no more than 30 minutes out your day.
What a successful first week of term
It has been lovely to observe how all our returning children have settled so well back into the pace of nursery life. Many of whom have grown and developed a newly found confidence.
We have celebrated a few birthdays this week with some of the children who have turned 4. No one ever says no to the treat of a birthday cake, not even staff.
The creation of the Mud Kitchen has been a resounding success, with the children developing their early numeracy skills as the count out the ingredients, with practitioners further challenging their thinking by asking to add on one more understanding that the last number is the amount they have. As a little thank you of our appreciation a small gift was presented to Nicola and Scott for their commitment over the summer holidays in creating this resource.
Cooperating, turn taking and sharing resources outdoor seems to be so much easier for children. Is it the space, the freedom without interruptions or the awe and wonder that learning outdoor brings?
Our new children have gradually been settling throughout the week and it has been reassuring that so many parents are taking the time to settle them enabling them to build relationships with key workers. Every child needs something different at points of transition and there is not one size fits all.
The Fire Pit has been a resounding success with the children, although quite a few have initially thought it was a swing. The children have been learning about the risks associated with fires. Nicola and Susan are fully qualified level 3 Forest School Leaders and have completed a full risk assessment for this resource.
Thank you to everyone who donated to the nursery snack basket this week, your generosity is really appreciated.
Enabling environments outdoors
We are so grateful to have received a wonderful gift, carefully crafted by Scott, Nicola’s husband, who under her direct guidance spent the summer creating such a wonderful resource for our children.
All children have daily opportunities to choose to be curious and learn in the outdoor environment regardless of the weather. Take a moment when you arrive for their session and chat to your child asking whether or not hey intend to go directly outdoors. If they do there is no need to change their footwear. Please check to make sure they have a full set of dry clothing in their bags, especially socks and trousers which they can easily change into. All personal clothing should be clearly labelled, there are Sharpie pens available in the cloakroom if required.
Watch this space, follow us on TWITTER and most importantly talk to your child about their learning outdoors.
Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first
would like to share some of the hopes and dreams our families have written during their induction to nursery last week.
”To settle in and have a great time”
”To make friends with everybody”
”To make friends and be happy”
”I hope he is healthy and happy”
”To settle into nursery and make some new friends”
”Have lots of fun learning and make new friends and learn lots of new things in new ways”
”To settle in well and make lots of friends and enjoy learning”
”Make new friends and be happy”
”To grow up and be happy and achieve all his goals and to know that whatever he chooses to do, his family will support him”
”For excellent learning and development and sharing and well mannered”
”To love making new friends and love learning “
”To be responsible, happy and have fun, share and spread love”
”To he settled, happy and make friends”
It is evident that the most importantly parents wishes for their children is to have fun, make friends and above all be happy. We will endeavour to work with you to ensure that your hopes and dreams materialise and look forward to revisiting this in a few months time.
What’s on week beginning 19th August 2019
Monday 19th August
Isabel is on annual leave today
Amanda is on leave all week.
Pamela is on leave all week, supporting the Bumblebee Group is Susan in the morning and Shannon in the afternoon
Early Learning Practitioner Ashleigh will be joining the nursery today on a temporary basis. She will be with us every Monday and Tuesday until further notice.
Tuesday 20th August
Lynn is out of the nursery this afternoon
Wednesday 21st August
Lynn is out of the nursery this afternoon
Gemma, speech and language therapist will be in the nursery this afternoon
Thursday 22nd August
Friday 23rd August
Have you confirmed your place yet?……..
Play on Pedals what a success
By June 2019, 65 % of the children could confidently ride a two wheeler bike. This was a tremendous achievement for the children from highly skilled practitioners who celebrated in their success.
We were fortunate to secure the Community Grant from the Coop and have been putting this to excellent use. So far we have purchased new adult bikes, additional two wheeler bikes of varying sizes, bike racks, replaced worn helmets, bought outdoor seating.
We intended to purchase new all weather clothing for children and staff which will enable them to take their bikes out in all terrains and weather within the local community.
We would welcome you to cycle with your child to nursery and use the secure storage areas. This grant will enable us to enhance our lending scheme where as a family you can borrow the bikes and helmets over a weekend.
(This picture was taken last year when we used the Bonaccord Football Stadium with the children.)
What’s on week beginning 12th August 2019
Monday 12th August 2019
Staff In Service Training – Nursery closed
Welcome to Nicole our new Modern Apprentice Childcare and Education who will be joining the nursery this term. Nicole will be supervised by Christine.
Tuesday 13th August 2019
Staff In Service Training Nursery closed
Wednesday 14th August 2019
Lynn has made a return to work this week.
Kirsty has returned to her substantive job share post.
Pamela is currently on leave. Gillian continues on her maternity leave.
We are excited to welcome our returning families. We hope that you have had a wonderful summer break and I am sure many of you will have grown.
Thursday 15th August 2019
Why not take a few moments and add your hopes and dreams for your child at nursery during their final year. Butterflies can be collected from your child’s key worker.
Friday 16th August 2019
