Category: Early Learning and Childcare

Orchard Brae Early Learning and Childcare department have 2 developmental nurseries on 2 separate sites. Orchard Brae Nursery at Howes Road is based within the school site, while Orchard Brae at Ashgrove is based within the Ashgrove children’s Centre. Places at both nurseries are allocated on application through the Educational Psychology service in conjunction with NHS Health Visitors. Placement meetings take place in June, November and February with pupils starting in the term after their 3rd birthday, depending on the availability of spaces.

Both Nurseries have pupils with a wide range of additional support needs. The aim of the Nurseries is to support pupils to develop the skills required to allow them to reach their full potential. A place at Orchard Brae nursery does not assume a place at Orchard Brae school as many pupils will gain skills that allow them to start Primary 1 in their zoned Primary school or Mile-end ASN provision.

Sense Scotland – Activity Videos

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As well as the Activity Sheets in the previous post we wanted to share some more videos from Sense Scotland on things you might like to try at home.

The ideas can all be adapted to suit your child and can be made using items and objects that can generally be found in the home without having to go out and buy specialist equipment or items.

If you do decide to make, or try, any of the activities or ideas that we have posted we would love to know how they turned out and how much fun was had. If you would like to, get in touch and let us know, if you get the chance you could always send us some photos too!

This next video is from Easy Peasy and Fun and is how to paint with ice!

Making Play Inclusive – Sense Play Toolkits

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Sense.org.uk is a charity that supports people with complex disabilities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Sense Scotland is part of the Sense family and works with children, young people and adults who have communication needs in Scotland.

Sense has developed a set of play toolkits for parents and professionals to provide information and advice on enabling children with complex disabilities to enjoy inclusive play.

The toolkit for parents contains simple ideas, suggestions and practical tips on making play fun and fully accessible. You know your child best, you know their likes and dislikes, so not all the activities and ideas may be suitable for your child but hopefully there will be some inspiring ideas for you to try.

Sense have also produced a series of videos to go along with their play toolkit which we have linked below.

During the current restrictions we know that you may not have, or be able to get, a lot of the items in the videos. The videos have simply been added to hopefully give you some ideas of things that you might want to try with your child, using or adapting, whatever items and objects you do already have at home.

Sensory Differences

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Our lives are full of sensory experience. We all respond to sensory information. We touch, move, see, hear, taste and smell. It is important to recognise that the sensory information we process can have an impact on how we feel, how we think and how we behave and respond. Any of the senses may be over, or under sensitive, or both, at different times.

These booklets will give you some ideas and examples of things that you can try to help you support your child with their sensory experiences.

  • Making Sense of Sensory Behaviour – Falkirk Council
  • Sensory Approach for Parents and Carers – Falkirk Council
  • Sensory Issues in Autism – East Sussex Council

      

New Nursery Blog

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Resources, Guidance, Advice and Ideas

Hello 🙂

Welcome to our new Nursery blog page.

We have set this page up for all our parents and children of Orchard Brae Nursery at Howes Road and Ashgrove.

We hope this page will provide you with easy access to any guidance, resources, advice and ideas specific to the early years that we think you might find useful!

The staff will still be in regular contact but we wanted you to have a page that you can access at anytime to suit you and your family circumstances.

We will update with new resources as and when we can, so please check back regularly to see what’s new!

To get us started, the following booklet published by Falkirk Council, gives some practical advice and information for parents and carers with young children at home.

Countdown To Christmas

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Orchard Brae Advent Calendar: Day 24

Christmas Day is almost here and we are delighted to share the final installment of the Orchard Brae Advent Calendar.

Today brings you a message from Caroline Stirton, Executive Head Teacher, along with a special video from staff.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year from everyone at Orchard Brae.

Christmas Fun at Howes Road Nursery

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It’s been a busy and fun time over the last few weeks. The children had all practised so hard for the nativity and each and every one of them did a fantastic job of dressing up and shaking their bells and beating their drums to the music. I’m sure you will enjoy seeing the video when it comes onto the website and Facebook. 

Lots of art and craft,messy play and sensory activities have been happening in Nursery. We have been foot painting reindeers,hand and finger painting big and little Christmas trees, playing with red slimy jelly, making sparkly reindeer food with oats and glitter and not to mention making a big snowman for our wall. It’s been great fun.

To finish off this term we had a fun party day on Thursday. We had dancing, music, disco lights and a very special visit from Santa. 

All the staff at Howes Road Orchard Brae Nursery wish you and your families a safe and Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all in 2021. 

Happy Holidays From Orchard Brae

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We would like to wish all of our pupils, families and colleagues a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We will continue to post our festive advent calendar right up to the big day but until then here is a wee snapshot of some of the festive things that have been happening in school over the last few weeks.

Enjoy the holidays and we will see you all in 2021!

Christmas Jumper Day

We celebrated Christmas Jumper Day in school last Friday but there have been lots of festive outfits on display this week too!

Santa’s Grotto

We’ve also had a very special visitor in school this week who has been busy handing out gifts to all the pupils. It was also a wonderful opportunity for pupils at home to join in with their classmates and share in the excitement!

Class Activities

There has also been lots of fun in classes too! We’ve had everything from snow exploration, decorating gingerbread houses, pyjama parties, Christmas crafts, mischievous elves and much much more!

Parties

And what would Christmas be without a party! A massive thank you the MOVE and PE teams for organising and hosting these. It certainly looks like everyone had a fantastic time!

Ashgrove Nursery at Christmas

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All the children at Ashgrove Nursery have been busy with preparations for Christmas. They have been involved in Christmas crafts where there has been opportunity for lots of sensory fun with paint and glitter.

They have been dressing up in Nativity costumes and singing their Nativity songs. The performance was captured on video. This will be sent home to parents in the New Year.

On Friday 11th December we held a Christmas party where we had fun dancing to Christmas music, we enjoyed a lovely party snack and had a special visit from Santa.

All the staff at Ashgrove would like to wish all the children and their families a very merry Christmas and look forward to seeing them in the New Year.