Our Curriculum & Learning Approach
We know that the early years of a child’s life are crucial to their development and our practitioners work to ensure that every child gets the best possible start in their education at our nursery.
Child-Led Learning Approach
Responsive planning is key to the learning opportunities and experiences we offer children at Cairndow Community Childcare.
Our practitioners facilitate learning activities based on topics chosen by the children in our care. Children are encouraged to share their interest through floor book mind maps and group discussions.
Additionally, we take guidance from the following resources:
* Pre Birth to Three
* Getting it Right for Every Child
* Building the Ambition
* How Good is our Early
Learning and Childcare
Curriculum for Excellence
At Cairndow Community Childcare we promote play-based education and adhere to national guidance from the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE).
CfC is split into 4 capacities which are:
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Successful Learners
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Confident Individuals
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Effective Contributors
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Responsible Citizens
Outdoor Learning
We believe there’s nothing we teach indoors that cant be taught outdoors, and make use of our fantastic outdoor area and the space around the childcare to support learning through play.
Our children spend as much time outside as they do inside, whether it be on Forest School sessions in the woodland areas that surround the childcare or down exploring on the shore.
The beauty of children playing outside is that they learn so much more and so differently from playing inside. Taking children into the woods and allowing them to negotiate uneven ground, circumnavigate logs, wildlife and precious flowers helps even the youngest walkers to manage themselves and better judge risks.
We commit to offering a more heuristic and real experience of the great outdoors and hope to inspire them and encourage a love and respect for nature for years to come.
It is easy under the guise of health and safety to try and remove the risks and therefore take away challenge in the activity or environment for the children.
We understand that a child’s needs for challenge, if not met, will often express itself in other ways including challenging behaviour.
The importance to us of outdoors play and learning is providing children the opportunity to take risks, encourage the right choices and build their self-confidence.
Healthy Eating at The Fyne Den
Healthy Eating
At Cairndow Community Childcare, we believe that healthy eating in the early years helps set the foundation for lifelong good habits.
Mealtimes are an important part of our daily routine - a time to nourish growing bodies, encourage independence and enjoy social interaction around the table.
We see mealtimes as a valuable learning opportunity. Children are encouraged to help with setting the table and serving their own food to help build independence and confidence.
At meal times we develop social skills by eating together, practising good manners while talking about food, different colours, textures and tastes. We use supporting language and sensory development.
Following Guidance
We follow 'Setting the Table' nutritional guidance for early years settings in Scotland, which helps us ensure that every meal and snack we serve is balanced, nutritious and age appropriate.
This means:
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Offering a variety of fruits and vegetables every day
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Providing wholegrain and starchy foods such as pasta, rice and potatoes to give children plenty of energy
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Including protein-rich foods like chicken, beans, fish or eggs to help with growth and development
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Encouraging milk and water as main drinks throughout the day
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Limiting foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat
Our Commitment
We work closely with families to accommodate allergies, cultural preferences and dietary needs, ensuring every child feels included and cared for. Our menus are reviewed regularly in line with the Setting the Table guidance to make sure we are always offering healthy, balanced options that children love.
At Cairndow Community Childcare, we're proud to make food healthy, fun, inclusive and part of everyday life - helping little learners build big, healthy habits for the future!
Our Aims & Objectives
Motivating our children to be successful learners.
Enabling children to be confident individuals.
Encouraging our children to be effective contributors.
Providing opportunities to practice responsible citizenship.
Providing a safe, secure and happy environment where every child reaches their potential.
Raising self-esteem and attainment through the celebration of achievement and success.
Developing children’s personalities, talents and physical abilities in a variety of settings allowing them to reach their fullest potential in our setting and the wider community.
Minimising the effects of additional support needs as a barrier to learning and providing learning experiences that are stimulating, challenging and age appropriate.
Maintaining good lines of communications within our shared placements, with parents and the wider community.
Developing partnerships with other establishments and agencies in the local community.
Ensuring all individual needs are met.