Hi Everyone,

It’s hard to believe it’s the last week of term already.  Our end of term has been very different this year and unfortunately we have not been able to give our nursery leavers the proud celebration they so deserve before moving onto school.  Certificates are being posted on our Nursery Leavers Learning Journals this week this can be printed as a reminder of their early year’s journey (access PDF file this by pressing the options button on your child’s learning journal).

We will miss them all so much and feel privileged to have had the pleasure of watching them grow into confident little individuals at East Calder Nursery who are now ready to embrace the next exciting new journey in their lives.

Staff Changes

Sadly Mrs O’Neill will be leaving nursery as she retires this term.  We wish her well as she approaches a new and exciting time in her life.  She came to work at East Calder when the original  nursery was opened over 30 years ago, over this time she has supported and guided hundreds of children as they took their first steps into their school lives.  Many of our present parents still have precious memories of those first days in nursery and the support Mrs O’Neill gave them.  Good Luck Mrs O’Neill we will all miss you.

Mrs Sharkey our Pupil Support Worker is moving on to work at the school, she will also be such a loss at Nursery and we wish her well in her new adventure.

Mrs O’Neill has kindly written a poem for the children who are leaving to start school.  She will miss them dearly and wishes them all lots of happiness in their new adventure.

Leaving nursery now, full of different ideas

Onwards to school, lots of excitement and fears.

Gaining lots of confidence during the last 2 years

We had variation of emotions, laughter and tears.

Now starting to read, write and learn, continuing to grow

Transporting your thoughts and developing what you know.

The uniform for school you can wear and be ready

Everything you need in bag, but don’t need no teddy.

Old and new faces you can readily approach

A new teacher there smiling and ready to coach.

Learning in nursery will now be put to the test,

We all know you will do your very very best!

Have lots of fun, be happy, makes lots of new friends

Your learning experience can continue to extend.

Nursery, though fun will now be a thing of the past,

Now look forward to your own little special class.

New Term

We are looking forward to welcoming back our returning children and families in the new term and are busy preparing our nursery environment to make this a positive and supportive experience.  You will be notified shortly of when the nursery will resume.

New Staff

We would like to welcome  new staff to our team who are looking forward to meeting you all in the new term.

Mrs Murray  –  Early Years Officer

Miss  Ritchie  –  Nursery Nurse

Most of our nursery team will be busy working at hubs over the summer and our nursery will close until the new term, therefore this will be the last blog post until we return.  We wish all our families a safe summer and hope that you continue to enjoy making happy memories with your children. We have felt so proud when reading all the learning, experiences and achievements you have supported your children with over this challenging time and hope you recognise the great parents that you are.

A few idea’s to try at home – kindly shared by our families

Cloud Dough

This is an easy no cook recipe using just three ingredients and is great for sensory play and some hands on maths and science learning.

• Plain Flour (4 cups)
• Oil – baby or vegetable oil (1 cup)
• Colour (grate in some coloured chalk or use gel food colouring)

Encourage your child to get involved when making it and as they count and measure the ingredients and observe the change in textures as the materials combine they are experiencing learning in maths and science.

L.1. I have experimented with everyday items as units of measure to investigate and compare sizes and amounts in my environment, sharing my findings with others.

Sunshine and Ice Cream

Enjoy the outdoors with plenty of fresh air and exercise, helping your child to use up energy, discovering new places together and practising gross motor skills.

Further support and inspiration for learning is available at https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/wl/snonursery/

EC Nursery Team