The Scottish Government has proposed to increase the provision of free childcare to 1140 hours per year for children who are 3 or 4 years old, as well as for vulnerable 2 year olds who are eligible for the 600 hours free entitlement through the Children & Young People’s Act 2014.
With this in mind we are conducting a survey exploring how parents would wish to use this increase. The results of this survey will help guide policy on early years child care provision. In order for the survey to produce representative results it is important that we reach as many parents of 3 or 4 year old children from as wide a variety of back grounds as possible, this includes those who do not currently use free child-care provision.
We are lucky to be within walking distance of Cruikshank Botanic Gardens. For the rest of the term the children will be taking turns to walk down to the gardens to search for minibeasts, study the different plants, and to play in the beautiful arboretum.
This week’s group saw a grey squirrel, snails, lots of minibeasts, discovered the different shapes of the leaves, and enjoyed a picnic!
Have a look at some of our adventures in the gardens…
In order for the children to be able to take these valuable trips to the gardens, we need a minimum of 3 parent helpers each week. If we do not have enough helpers, the walks can’t happen. If you are able to help, please speak with a member of the nursery team!
We have had some beautiful moments in Riverbank Nursery over the past few days with our butterflies emerging from their cocoons. The children have watched in fascination as our transformed little visitors have been fluttering around the nets, eating nectar from the oranges and flowers left in the nets, and spreading their wings.
We will be releasing them out into the garden on the next sunny day and we can’t wait to see our butterflies fly free!
One of our parents has very kindly given a copy of the morning nursery’s performance of Wriggly Nativity from Christmas time. We have uploaded it as a password protected video at Vimeo for you to see at anytime.
Today was an exciting day for the children of Riverbank Nursery – Caris from ZooLab came to visit and she brought along some wonderful little friends too!
We got to meet a giant land snail, a stick insect, a tarantula, a millipede, and even a corn snake. We got to touch some of them and even hold some of them. We learned so much about them!
It was so exciting and a day we will remember for a long time!
We had the arrival of some worm cocoons and the nursery children worked together to get them ready to hatch. They had to soak them in water then put them in our special worm incubator. When they are hatched, we will put them in our very own worm nursery!
Getting them ready…
Careful!
Careful scientists…
Taking a closer look!
Measuring carefully…
Only a few drops of water…
Carefully dripping the water in…
Carefully dripping the water in…
Rinsing the worm cocoons…
Putting them carefully in the incubator with the help of Mrs Fettes
Putting them carefully in the incubator with the help of Mrs Fettes
Putting them carefully in the incubator with the help of Mrs Fettes
Putting them carefully in the incubator with the help of Mrs Fettes
Putting them carefully in the incubator with the help of Mrs Fettes
In spite of the unseasonable weather, Riverbank Nursery have been getting into the swing of spring with lots of planting and gardening. We have started a vegetable patch and greenhouse with potatoes, herbs, beans, cabbage, tomatoes and onions!
The gardening is hard work, but we can’t wait to see how they grow…
Busy gardeners!
Gardening takes a bit of team work…
Gardening takes a bit of team work…
Gardening takes a bit of team work…
Busy gardeners!
Busy gardeners!
Busy gardeners!
We hid the potatoes in Miss Logan’s cupboard until the sprouted….we think it worked!
Carefully planting the seeds…
Making sure they have just enough water to help them grow!
The children of Riverbank Nursery got a big surprise today when they arrived at Nursery….
33 very hungry caterpillars!
Over the coming weeks the children are looking forward to watching them grow and change from caterpillars to cocoons and finally to beautiful butterflies!
