New focus on outdoor education at Bower Busy Bees
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A BOWER pre-school group is set to reopen next month with a new focus on outdoor education which will encourage child-led learning in a safe forest area and a garden space.
Bower Busy Bees recently closed due to low attendance numbers and reduced funding. However, after some hard work by both the outgoing and incoming parent-run committees, and with support from local councillors, the unit is set to open its doors again.
To get the premises ready for the new chapter, the pre-school committee has so far held two work days, the second of which was last Sunday, and more than 20 people from the community pitched in to help.
Volunteers joined together to refresh and improve the outdoor areas, while several families dropped by to have a look at the nursery and discuss the options for their children. The committee is also holding a series of open days for parents interested in enrolling their children.
Senior early years practitioner Fiona Murray explained that the nursery is "reopening with a continued commitment to high-quality childcare in an inclusive and supported environment, with a renewed focus on outdoor and exploratory play".
The staff and committee are excited to open this amazing new facility in November.
She said: “Busy Bees is about to offer young children a unique educational experience, with its new focus on outdoor learning. Along with a more intimate indoor play facility, our aim is to take learning outdoors, encouraging child-led discovery in a natural environment.
"We have been surrounded by a wonderful team of over 20 volunteers, with everyone putting their talents and skills towards a shared vision.
"Children will be participating in child-led learning set in a safe forest and garden space.
"This taps in to the core of a child's early learning and is an opportunity for us to be a model for the far north. The staff and committee are excited to open this amazing new facility in November.
"With space for just 10 children attending per day, and an extensive outdoor play area that has been increased to include part of the forest, the committee and parents believe that the nursery will go from strength to strength as it enters this new era and attracts parents seeking out more adventurous child-led play."
She added: "We want to thank again both the Bower community and the wider community of Caithness for its fantastic support."
The next work day is scheduled for this Saturday (October 26), from 10am to 4pm, and the nursery will begin enrolling children once all play workers' appropriate documentation is confirmed.
