Last weeks “ shark in the park” story massage was a huge success with everyone having a lovely relaxing time combining the creativity of the story with the benefits of positive touch. With everyone nice and relaxed the children then went off to look for sharks with their telescopes while the big people wrote their very own story massage to take home and further enjoy the benefits of story massage. 
Category Archives: Early Level
Session Letters
still a few letters to be returned for returning Children in August 2020. Please make sure you return these to Lorraine by Wednesday 29th January.
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.
And so the learning continues…….
Since returning from the October school holiday break the children have been consolidating their numeracy skills. They have been learning to touch count, knowing that the last number they say is the amount they have. Many of the children are now graphically copying numerals in their play, which led on to making their own clocks and watches, sharing different times within their day.
Developing coin recognition in a playful way began with the creation of Shotts Nursery Shop, selling a variety of goods, however this very quickly changed into designing and planning for various foods to be sold in their new Café. Throughout this process the children, cooperated with one another,shopped and made their own foods, developed their early mark making skills whilst taking orders but above all they were learning through real life contextualised play. The children have been visiting local eateries, planning their journey, ordering from the menus and making new aquantencies in the community. And what a lovely gesture to have some homemade Romanian cake when the Cafe turned into a cake and coffee shop. It really was truly delicious.
The children’s interested in pouring and filing and transporting led to the development of larger sand area. Thanks to the local business of Cooper Brothers donating some recycled tyres, this has made a fabulous area.
The recent Story Massage training along with the Mindful Approaches games, has led to the together time room, being created into a wonderful space where the children can truly use a calm space throughout their session. This room can be viewed on @CentreShotts.
We hope that you have had an opportunity to take a closer look at the Kindness Tree which is growing beautifully with tender loving kind thoughts. I wonder what your own child has shared???
Wow, thank you all so much, mums, dads, grandparents and child minders for your continued engagement at the weekly Bookbug Family Sessions.
The children continue to use the outdoor learning opportunities daily regardless of the weather. The only problems encountered is that many of the children do not have spare clothes in their nursery bags when they get wet. It would be great if you could check to make sure your child has a full set of clothes in their bag.
As a team we have decided that we will now do a monthly up date of learning on the BLOG, along with the weekly What’s on and use TWITTER on a daily basis to update you . Follow us on @CentreShotts
Can we remind you of the following to help stop the spread of infection.
If your child is ill they must not attend nursery.
If your child becomes unwell whilst in our care, we will phone you to come and collect them.
If your child has had any symptoms of vomiting or diahorrea ( or both), it is essential that they do not attend until 48hrs after the symptoms have stopped.
If your child has had to receive Calpol prior to coming to nursery for a fever or being unwell, then they should remain at home.
Watch out for December issue of the Nursery Newsletter, which will be available mid week.
Wow what a quick term…..
We cannot believe how quickly this term has flown by and the learning which has taken place. Each day the children have added something new to their learning. We have found that it’s so much quicker to share your child learning daily on TWITTER, please follow us on @CentreShotts.
The Three Read Approach to Literacy home link resources have continued to be a resounding success, with parents and children alike sharing their engagement in the stories being read at home.
Loose parts have inspired many of the children to be creative, to work cooperatively and share their learning with others.
Many of the children have taken part in weekly Langueland sessions facilitated by Isabel. These groups are specifically designed to support the children’s attention and listening skills. If you would like to find out more about these sessions then please speak to Isabel direct.
Its lovely to observe so many children who want to take their learning into the kitchen to bake and cook. These are life long skills which will continue with them as they grown and develop.
Wow, the success of the family Bookbug sessions have been outstanding with over 90% attendance throughout since the beginning of term in all of the groups.
Nurture Nature at the Shotts Nature Park, we hope that you have been following their adventures on TWITTER. A local gentleman Mr George King has been making some beautiful fairy doors and houses and placing them strategically throughout the park. Than k you Mr King.
And finally, all the children have been issued with a Sponsor form, and an icon of rhymes for you to learn them at home for the Sponsored Rhyme Event on Tuesday 23rd October 2018. Parents, carers and grandparents are welcome to come along at 11.15 am and 3.15 pm to hear the children recite the rhymes. All donations received will go directly to the nursery.
We hope to see you all at the Mind full or mindful? event with Edward Reid on Tuesday 23rd October at 7 pm – 8.30 pm in Calderhead High School this is an adult only, ticketed event. If you need tickets please speak directly to your child’s key worker. This is just the beginning of our community events as we continue to put nurture and relationships at the heart of our work with children and families.
We hope that you have a lovely October holiday, relax and enjoy some autumn fun.
And the learning continues………..
Through the Three Read Approach to Literacy programme, Nurturing Early Readers, Nicola’s group have been reading Sugarlump and the Unicorn. They have explored the characters, setting and the problem. Through their illustrations they have been able to share their favourite part.
” Sugarlump hung his head because he was sad”
“When Sugarlump went into the loft”
“she flashed her eyes, her blue eyes, 7 times she turned around and the horses wish came true.”
“When Sugarlump galloped”
“I liked the circus cause Sugarlump danced and he was happy, the Unicorn flashed his eyes of blue.”
The children have enjoyed building relationships through the use of a variety of table top games and puzzles, where they continue to develop turn taking , sharing and helping each other. There have been many opportunities to develop awareness of matching, sorting and counting. The children have particularly enjoyed spending time within the story corner listening to stories that have captured their imagination, this has enabled them to transfer this interest within other areas of the nursery with all practitioners facilitating this learning .
The wet weather has provided opportunities for play in the mud kitchen where the children have been exploring the texture of the mud, using the utensils to add more water to jump in, paint with and be creative with. Working together the children have used the loose parts on offer such as long pieces of wood to build ships, bridges and many other wonderful creations.
Why not check more pictures out on Twitter when they are posted.
The inspiration gained from Shark in the Park, at the weekly family Bookbug sessions as provided lots of opportunities for role playing as pirates! This has enabled the children to build new friendships and include one an other as they work together building pirate ships and helicopters. It has also given them the opportunity to develop their mathematical skills as they compare sizes and lengths and counting how many bricks they have used. Lots of creativity and problem solving all around.
The Tinkering Table, daily fuels the children’s curiosity and creativity……….the wonder of the imagination and loose parts.
We are learning ……
Children within the early level playroom are exploring the characters and setting within traditional fairy tales such as The Three Little and The Gingerbread Man , they have had opportunities to explore events from within the story through the use of puppets, costumes and the use of the smart board which have brought these stories alive.
Children have demonstrated a keen interest in cooking and baking and have been supported in creating their own shopping list, developing control of their fine movements whilst using a variety of mark making resources. Some children have participated in outings to the shops to buy the ingredients and have become bakers in the kitchen with delicious Banana Bread and smoothie ice lollies being made. The use of measuring scales, spoons and measuring jugs have enabled the children to begin to develop their awareness of measure, counting and quantities.
All children continue to be encouraged to be kind, caring and helpful to each other with practitioners providing role modelling , positive noticing comments and opportunities to work together, turn take and share within all areas of the nursery , indoors and outdoors through fun and active play. The introduction of babies and the water tray , or bath, have supported this learning with children demonstrating these skills as they care, feed and dress their babies. Outside there have been regular opportunities for all children to practice their skill on the balance bikes , ensuring they carry out the safety checks ,wearing a helmet and have been enjoying participating in active and energetic play.
Bookbug Family Learning Sessions for early level children
A successful first week of term
A big welcome back to the returning children who are demonstrating their eagerness to be back at nursery ready to learn, explore and discover. Through consultations the children have offered their ideas on which resources and experiences should be available for them to participate in over the coming weeks, suggestion have included baking, playing outdoors, building pirate ships and playing with train track. ‘The Three Little Pigs’ story has captured the children’s interest in all areas of the nursery and inspired them to build houses using different materials.
To ensure our newest children feel happy and secure when settling into Shotts Family Learning Centre we have sought advice from the experts (our pre-school children) on how we can include them and make them feel welcome. This has proven to be a great success as all children are beginning to build friendships and recognise the feelings of others. Here’s a sample of some suggestions.
