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.
We had a little Easter Fun in nursery. Firstly we painted our Easter eggs beautifully and then we went outdoors to find a hill. Look at us having fun and rolling our Easter eggs down the hill.
We would like to wish all our students, their families and staff a very happy spring holiday. Enjoy your well deserved holidays and we shall see you back in school on the 15th of April.
Our amazing Makaton Choir, dancers and drummers had great fun entertaining the whole school with their favourite songs as a fundraiser for Comic Relief.
We are also raising money through our World Book Day Book and DVD trolley and all the money received will be donated to Comic Relief. Total raised so far is £240.
The students and staff in Howes Hoose have also been busy selling red noses around the school. They have raised an amazing £90 and they have donated a further £50 from their soup making enterprise. A huge well done to everyone in Howes Hoose for their total of £140! (Photos to follow!)
We learned all about birds during Birdwatch Week. We started by making pictures of birds with colourful feathers and we listened to a sensory story called ‘Learning to Fly’ – we had such fun with the bird puppet it made us laugh and we touched a little egg in a nest. Most of us loved exploring the texture of birdseed and then we made mixed it with lard to make birdcakes. We had a bus outing to Hazlehead Woods where we collected twigs to make nest pictures, listened to the birds while exploring the woods and set out the birdcakes for the birds.
The morning children at Ashgrove have been very busy learning about vegetables. They went on a shopping trip to select and purchase the ingredients required for making soup. Once back at Nursery they had the opportunity to explore and cut the vegetables in our interest table. Some children were particularly engaged and interested. They were able to make and taste the soup during snack. To extend their interest and learning they were given the opportunity to make lovely pictures using the vegetables.
The pupils in Room 16 have been working hard on our Ragbag project for 18 months now. We are delighted to confirm that we have raised approximately £900 for the school fund (that’s more than 2 tonnes of clothing that have been saved from landfill!).
Rag bag is a Scottish textile and clothing recycling scheme. Items are graded according to their quality at their premises in Falkirk. Wearable items are sent to developing countries as 2nd hand clothing, items which may have been torn or damaged recycled and become carpet underlay or industrial cleaning cloths or even mattress lining. Either way they are kept from landfill.
There are 3 collection schemes, 1: send bags home, 2: inside collection bin (at school front office) and 3: external collection bin. We are proud to say that we have all 3 schemes in operation.
We collect clothes, pairs of shoes, belts and bags.
So this Spring, as you clear out your winter wardrobe, feel free to fill a bag of rags for us!
To celebrate World Music Therapy Day 2019 our talented Music Therapist Emmeline has posted an amazing video on Facebook sharing all the wonderful Music Therapy that goes on at Orchard Brae. Click on the link to see the Video and enjoy!
Yesterday afternoon, we were extremely fortunate to have had a visit from Mary Raunikar Page and her harp. We had a great time listening to her play the harp and there was lots of fun as we all had the opportunity to explore the instrument and make our own music.
The afternoon children at Orchard Brae @ Ashgrove have been participating in “Burns Day” and “Chinese New Year” celebrations. They had the opportunity to make tartan pictures and thistles as well as Chinese writing. They were able to try the traditional Burns supper of “Haggis, Neeps and Tatties” followed by shortbread which they had decorated. Some of the children were not impressed with this Scottish dish. The Chinese food proved more popular and they particularly enjoyed trying to pick up the noodles and rice with the chopsticks.
The children in Nursery have had a very busy time! They have enjoyed welcoming new friends into the playroom and playing together to explore snow –brrr! We love PE with Salvador, climbing and jumping and kicking a ball. We made our own playdough to play with and went drumming in the hall –bang, bang, bang!! No wonder we are tired by the time we get home!
