Childcare ChatterChildcare ChatterIssue 44 - June 2015

Argyll & Bute Early Years Service Newsletterincorporating the Early Years Collaborative

SOROBA’S NEW LIFE TOPIC

lnlncluded in this issuecluded in this issue

Page 2 Clyde Cottage Page 2 Clyde Cottage Nursery NurseryPage 3 Kilmartin Mud Page 3 Kilmartin Mud Kitchen KitchenPage 4 Happy House Page 4 Happy House celebrate celebratePage 5 Developmental Page 5 Developmental Milestones MilestonesPage 6 Bookbug NewsPage 6 Bookbug NewsPage 7 Childminding Page 7 Childminding News News

SALi - EARLY YEARS SECTION

Sharing Argyll Learning ideas (SALi) is where all our educators can share information, resources and ideas. The Early Years Service has its own page where Managers, Early Years Workers and Practitioners can access a range of useful documents you can use in your settings; these include relevant documents on Early Learning and Childcare, Psychology of Parenting Programme and national guidance documents including Building the Ambition. Our new Developmental Milestones paperwork is also accessible here. If you would like to be able to access other documents or you have any suggestions on how we can improve on this facility, please do not hesitate to contact us earlyyears@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Log onto https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/ab/sali/early-years/

Argyll & Bute Early Years Service

Soroba’s recent topic was ‘New Life’. The children in this photograph helped to prepare the ground in the planters for some of the fl owers and vegetable they are growing as part of their topic.

Photo courtesy of Manager, SYFG

CLYDE COTTAGE ACTIVITIES

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Western Ferries recently sponsored Clyde Co age Nursery and provided them with a fantas c new ‘Wri ng Shed’. This will also allow the children to improve their literacy skills indoors and out and will give them lots of opportuni es to be crea ve outdoors.

CLYDE COTTAGE TRANSITION

Clyde Cottage Nursery started our school transition visits by

taking a group to Kilmodan Primary.

One wee boy Liam will be attending Kilmodan Primary School so we took the whole group to visit to make it more special for him.

Photos and article courtesy of Clyde Cottage Nursery.

In May, parents joined their children to clean up our community. They managed to collect 16 black bags of rubbish from the Rose Gardens and surrounding areas. They were also awarded their ECO Schools 2nd Green Flag which they have been working towards achieving for 2 years.

KILMARTIN MUD KITCHEN

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Pupils from Primary 1 at Rothesay Primary popped into the Nursery to share their favourite books. The older children cha ed about what it is like to be in ‘big school’ and how clever they are now that they can read. The visits were a great success and the children in the nursery are now even more excited about star ng school!

Photos and ar cles courtesy of Maureen Shaw, Rothesay Joint Campus

Children from Kilmar n Primary School Nursery having lots of fun playing with mud!

Photos courtesy of Fiona Johnson, Headteacher

SHARING READING IN ROTHESAY

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ESCAPE

During the Easter holidays, Duggie MacRaild off ered to show the children how to make a pizza with fresh ingredients.

The children’s faces show the fun they had and fresh pizza was enjoyed for lunch by all.

Photos and ar cle courtesy of Manager, ESCAPE (Dunoon)

HAPPY HOUSE CELEBRATIONSHAPPY HOUSE CELEBRATIONSHappy House Chris an Preschool (Oban), celebrated its 30th anniversay recently with a Happy House Chris an Preschool (Oban), celebrated its 30th anniversay recently with a garden party in the church and grounds. Staff and children past and present a ended garden party in the church and grounds. Staff and children past and present a ended the event and one of the grandmothers made a special cake to mark the occasion. the event and one of the grandmothers made a special cake to mark the occasion.

Photos courtesy of Sue Rimmer, Manager, Happy HousePhotos courtesy of Sue Rimmer, Manager, Happy House

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DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONESDEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONESRhunahaorine Nursery have been using the toolkit to assess children’s progress Rhunahaorine Nursery have been using the toolkit to assess children’s progress towards the aim of “90% of all children mee ng their developmental milestones by towards the aim of “90% of all children mee ng their developmental milestones by the me they enter P1”. We have had lots of posi ve engagement from parents in our the me they enter P1”. We have had lots of posi ve engagement from parents in our PLPs. Prac oners have found the toolkit really helpful “to fi ll in the gaps - the ones PLPs. Prac oners have found the toolkit really helpful “to fi ll in the gaps - the ones we didn’t even know were there!”we didn’t even know were there!”

MILESTONEMILESTONE

I can follow safety instructons during I can follow safety instructons during physical ac vi es and give sugges ons physical ac vi es and give sugges ons about how to keep safe e.g. at Forest about how to keep safe e.g. at Forest School.School.

MILESTONEMILESTONE

I can sequence 3 to 4 pictures logically I can sequence 3 to 4 pictures logically and talk through the story.and talk through the story.

(All photos courtesy of Headteacher, (All photos courtesy of Headteacher, Rhunahaorine Primary School)Rhunahaorine Primary School)

MILESTONEMILESTONE

I can set the table, serve and par cipate I can set the table, serve and par cipate socially during snack me. Parent socially during snack me. Parent comments “He loves ge ng tasks comments “He loves ge ng tasks to do at home like se ng the table, to do at home like se ng the table, dusing etc. and also watching dusing etc. and also watching me cook.me cook.

A full copy of the Developmental Milestone Toolkit, parent handbooks and copies of A full copy of the Developmental Milestone Toolkit, parent handbooks and copies of the SHANNARI DM for all 3 and 4 year olds in your nursery, will either be delivered to the SHANNARI DM for all 3 and 4 year olds in your nursery, will either be delivered to your nursery or available for pick up by the beginning of next term, contact sheena.your nursery or available for pick up by the beginning of next term, contact sheena.stewart@argyll-bute.gov.ukstewart@argyll-bute.gov.uk

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BOOKBUG NEWS

BOOKBUG ANNUAL STATSBookbug sessions have been very popular from April 2014 un l March 2015, with 922 sessions being held, 8,617 adults a ending and a total of 11,198 children a ending! This included 214 Gaelic/Bilingual sessions with 1,111 adults and 1,690 children a ending.

Keills Primary School nursery and P1-4 children used one of the Gaelic Bookbug songs as an Ac on song at

the recent mod in Islay. They performed ‘Seo Mar a Bhios Sinn Cuir Suas Na Siùil’ (This Is The Way we Hoist The Sails) and won second place!

Photo courtesy of Keills Primary School

During the Easter holidays, The Early Years Team worked with Library Services and the Eden Project to put on The Big Bookbug Gruff alo Lunch at Oban Library. 30 families took part in the event which linked nicely to the local Early Level transi on pro-ject. There was a Gruff alo themed Bookbug session, followed by a Gruff alo character hunt around the library. Families were then treated to a delicious lunch by the Eden Project’s Big Lunch team who were on hand to providing informa on about the benefi ts of bringing communi es together on a regular basis.

The new reading room at St Columba’s Primary School (photo on the left) and the grand opening by Bookbug (right). Photos courtesy of St Columba’s Primary Schoool.

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CHILDMINDING NEWSIt only takes fi ve minutes to get your children’s car seats checked.

Experts from the Good Egg Guide to In-Car Child Safety will be travelling across the UK this summer holding FREE child car seat checking events.

CAR SAFETY BELT CHECKS

Find your nearest car seat clinics here...

http://www.goodeggcarsafety.com/ukincar/incar/car_clinics/

A new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop and e-Learning programme - Working with ADHD and the Autism Spectrum - is now available for SCMA members.

SCMA have stated that this opportunity will help childminders identify the key characteristics of ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The programme explores the concept and key symptoms of ADHD and ASD; encouraging childminders to think about appropriate behaviour responses within a professional childminding setting.

Members can now book a place onto upcoming Working with ADHD and the Autism Spectrum workshops or our e-Learning programme.

Childminders across the authority have embraced the new National document Building the Ambition. Twilight training

sessions have taken place in most local areas and many childminders attended and enjoyed the sessions. For more information contact Linda Morrison linda.morrison@argyll-bute.gov.uk

HMRC’s Live Webinars for Childminder

These are aimed mainly at new childminders and those wanting a refresher, the live webinar sessions guide you through the tax requirements for self-employed childminders.

http://www.childminding.org/news/childminders-making-good-use-of-hmrc-s-live-webinars

At evening when I go to bedI see the stars shine overhead;They are the little daisies whiteThat dot the meadow of the Night.And often while I'm dreaming so,Across the sky the Moon will go;It is a lady, sweet and fair,Who comes to gather daisies there.For, when at morning I arise,There's not a star left in the skies;She's picked them all and dropped them downInto the meadows of the town.

STRAWBERRY SLUSHIE

MethodGive this super simple and really delicious slushie a try - without all the added sugar and junk of a shop-bought fi zzy drink, it's a treat without all the nasties.

1. Pick the top leafy bits off the strawberries.2. Pick the mint leaves, discarding the stalk.3. Add the strawberries and mint leaves to a liquidiser along with 100g of ice cubes.4. On a chopping board, cut the lemon in half.5. Squeeze half the juice into the liquidiser, using your fi ngers to catch any pips.6. Add enough cold water to just cover the strawberries (roughly 350ml), pop the lid on and whiz until smooth.7. Fill a large jug halfway up with ice cubes.8. Taste the slushie and sweeten with a little sugar, if needed.9. Pour into the jug and stir with a wooden spoon.

WATER BOTTLE WIND SPIRALS

You will need

Several plastic water bottles, permanent markers in various colours and scissors.

1. Remove the lids and labels from your bottles and give them a quick wash. Make sure bottles are thoroughly dry on the outside. 2. Once the bottles are dry, your little ones can colour them! Permanent markers are a must for this step. Washable ink will not adhere to the plastic. We used a variety of colours on each bottle. We made vertical stripes on some and horizontal stripes on others, make sure your bottle is covered in colour from top to bottom. 3. With your scissors, remove the fl at bottom of the bottle and discard (or save for a future craft project!). Starting at the cut edge, snip around and around, from the bottom of the bottle to the top, to create a spiral. Stop cutting when you get to the smooth, rounded “shoulders” of the bottle. 4. When all of your spirals have been cut, head out to the yard and fi nd a slender tree branch to hang them from. Slide the neck of the bottles onto the branch and nest the bottle tops together by tucking each one into the one before it.5. Stand back, and watch your colourful wind spirals bounce and dance in the breeze.

Kathleen and the Early Years team would like to wish you all a very happy, relaxing holiday!