The Scottish Government is funding Business Gateway to deliver an extended pilot programme of targeted support to help childcare providers to adapt to current economic conditions and strengthen their sustainability.
The programme of support is available to all types of registered childcare providers in Scotland, including self-employed childminders. It allows childcare providers to access targeted business, financial management, marketing and human resources (HR) support if they need to refresh their knowledge, upskill, or access specialist advice.
Please feel free to come along to the drop-in sessions (dates below) which have a specific session aimed at all pupils (between 2 and 3pm) :
Diciadain 29 Màrt, 2–6f aig Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Inbhir Nis / Wednesday 29th March at BSGI, Inverness
Diluain 17 Giblean, 2–6f aig an Tasglann, Àrd-Sgoil Phort Rìgh / Monday 17th April at the Archive Centre, Portree High School
Dimàirt 18 Giblean, 2–6f aig Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar / Tuesday 18th April at BSGL, Fort William
Please share with all staff and parents/carers.
Co-chomhairleachadh Poblach air Dreachd Plana Gàidhlig Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd 2023-28 Public Consultation for the draft Gaelic Language Plan 2023-28
The Highland Council public consultation for the draft Gaelic Language Plan is now live.
This consultation will remain open until 23:59pm on the 21st of April 2023.
Quick reminder that you must submit your annual return to the Care Inspectorate by no later than Sunday 19 March 2023.
All service types must complete this electronically on the eForms system. You can access this here.
Remember – even if your service is inactive, you must submit an annual return.
If you are experiencing any issues or have any concerns, please get in touch with their contact centre on 0345 600 9527 between 09:00-16:00, Monday to Friday. Please remember the contact centre will be extremely busy as the deadline approaches.
You can find further information about the annual returns on their website.
Children are full of energy and never seem to stop! Whether it is running, jumping, climbing, balancing, throwing and catching or stamping in puddles. They love to engage in physical play. It may involve resources such as bikes or balls but can also be using their own bodies in various ways too.
Why is it important?
Physical play is great for many reasons including health and wellbeing, risk assessing, cooperating with others or listening to instructions. Children can discover for themselves what they can do. The opportunities to develop gross motor skills, provide a base for developing fine motor skills, leading to drawing and marking skills.
How to bring it back (guidance etc)?
Whether it is in the gym at school, a garden, a park or another outdoor area, there are various areas you can use. Where can you use? Can you involve the children in helping to make resources to use too? While children need opportunities to explore lots of ways to move, they also need to be supported to risk assess during physical play.
Sharing with home?
Encourage families to take children outside and use their own bodies, in fun exercise. Share with families the importance of developing gross motor skills to move in many ways. Where possible encourage learning to swim, cycling safely and joining in team sports.
This is one of a weekly series of posts highlighting different spaces, experiences and interactions that practitioners have told us are not all easy to get back after the pandemic restrictions.
It’s all about playing, talking, and having fun together – so we hope they are useful. If there are any ideas you’d like us to highlight, just get in touch with your link EYESO.
For ideas about family engagement, you will find a “home” version of this post on bumps2bairns.com
Cuddly, soothing, gentle, relaxing, fluffy, and soft. Children love to hold or carry these. It may be something they have had for a very long time or a character toy from a favourite book or it could be a puppet, particularly the type they can get their hand/arm inside. Very often they can help younger children to get to sleep.
Why is it important?
Children need opportunities for comfort and reassurance, and they can get this from a favourite toy, for some children this will be in the form of a soft cuddly toy. The sensory pleasure of holding something soft and cuddly can provide great comfort. It can also be something children can relate to and may talk to or tell stories to. Sometimes reluctant talkers will be heard engaging in a great conversation with their teddy. All brilliant opportunities for language development.
How to bring it back
Settings should select resources which are easily cleaned in line with their regular practice for cleaning resources and infection control. Soft toys could be found anywhere in the room but certainly in the role play area, cosy corners and story areas. Staff can model using them for acting out stories e.g. The Tiger who came to Tea in role play or reading the soft toy a story anywhere in the room or outside.
Sharing with home?
Staff can remind families of the benefits of soft toys, whilst also reminding them of the need to try to keep them clean. Staff could share stories/rhymes related to any soft toys in the setting when they are having them as a story or rhyme of the week.
This is one of a weekly series of posts highlighting different spaces, experiences and interactions that practitioners have told us are not all easy to get back after the pandemic restrictions.
It’s all about playing, talking, and having fun together – so we hope they are useful. If there are any ideas you’d like us to highlight, just get in touch with your link EYESO.
For ideas about family engagement, you will find a “home” version of this post on bumps2bairns.com
