FAQs
Isn’t all day, every day in the woods a bit much for such young children?
The nursery will be open on a part time basis so children will only attend for one or two days each week, alongside another nursery, a childminder or days at home. We are currently open on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Do you offer half days?
We only offer full days as our experience has shown this enables children to get the most from their experience. Getting to and from the site takes a while and is part of the pace and rhythm of the day; a half day simply isn;t enough time for children to transition and settle fully. The rhythm of the day includes a 1/2 mile walk into the woods together, deciding together what to do and where to spend the day. There will be a fire or other collective time towards the end of the day, before we walk back to meet parents and carers at pick-up time. Daily routines and rituals are very significant to young children, helping them to feel secure and comfortable, and giving them a sense of belonging to the group.
Will my child really be OK outdoors, all day, in Scotland, in winter????!!!
It’s impossible to overemphasise the importance of CLOTHING! Children who are dressed to be warm and waterproof will enjoy themselves even when it is cold and wet. We provide a kit list, with tips from parents whose children have attended the Wild Sparks playscheme and other outdoor provisions. If you stick to the advice and provide sufficient spares, your child will stay warm and dry and be able to enjoy the Wee Wild Sparks experience.
We have a large cosy bell tent heated by a stove, where we can go to warm up on a cold day and big tarps that we rig up over favourite spots for sheltered play in wet weather.
Children tend to be more resilient than adults when it comes to bad weather. They move more than we do (2-3 child steps to one adult step!) and tend to sit less, and our experienced staff know when to instigate an energetic game to help everyone to warm up. You can help your child to feel happy about coming on wet or gloomy days by commenting positively on the weather, even if secretly you can’t wait to get back to a heated building.
Will the nursery have Local Authority funded places?
We are currently in the process of securing partnership provision and hope to be able to offer funded places to families from April 2018 onwards
What about the toilet!!!!???
On site there is a newly installed composting loo, with a child size seat and handwashing facilities. We’ll designate a pee tree in different parts of the woods, for boys (and girls if they like). We’ve got a potty for emergencies with a tarp to rig up for privacy. As you’d expect from any childcare setting, we make sure that children are clean and comfortable after a loo visit.
What if my child is still in nappies?
We are equipped and happy to take children in nappies. You’ll need to supply nappies and wipes, and we are happy to use cloth nappies if that is your preference.
Why do you take age 3-7?
3 is the youngest that children can join the nursery. We can welcome children up to the age of 7 to support home-schooling or flexi-schooling arrangements.
What are the benefits of spending so much time outdoors?
There are so many benefits to outdoor learning that it is impossible to cover them all here! But here are a few for starters;
- Current recommendations are that children have 3 hours of activity a day, which can be hard to achieve in an indoor setting, but is easy in the woods. On the go all day, children develop muscle tone, stamina and resilience.
- Playing with mud and natural materials promotes development of healthy immune systems.
- After a day with us you can expect your child to eat all their tea and sleep well at night!
- Children develop an attachment to their woods and are enthusiastic about caring for the plants and animals living there. Current research shows that children who have this kind of experience in childhood, grow up to be environmentally aware citizens.
Won’t the children miss out on “real” learning if they are playing in the woods all day long?
Our pedagogical approach is led by the environment and the children’s interaction with it through the natural calendar. Children are encouraged to be autonomous and follow their own interests, with adults observing carefully to make judgements about when to intervene, support and extend play and learning. Being outside in the woods allows children to apply their learning directly in meaningful ways, acquiring skills that will stand them in good stead through their lives. We operate in line with the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), meeting outcomes in Literacy, Numeracy, Health and Wellbeing and the other five curriculum areas; pretty much anything that can be taught inside can be achieved in the woods too! Recently, we observed a group of children gathering sticks to ‘build a fire’. They then spent all morning arranging those sticks into bundles by size rather than actually building the fire. They counted the sticks, and allocated them fairly after an animated discussion; practising their number skills, measuring, estimating and ordering whilst also developing concepts about division - in addition to the language and social skills required for the collaborative group activity!
How will I know what my child is learning?
We use an innovative online system for assessment, recording and reporting each child's learning and development. Parents receive regular updates with photos and observations, clearly outlining how their child is meeting different experiences and outcomes of CfE. Additionally, the things your child says and does will show you! You may well notice them growing in confidence, independence, adventurousness, and showing a positive approach to solving problems. Staff will give you a verbal update at pick-up time, when your child will often greet you with a handful of sticks, leaves, pebbles, providing starting points for discussion.
Can I come for a visit?
Yes! We welcome visits from any interested parents and children. We offer regular stay and play sessions throughout the term but can also arrange a visit outwith these times if that suits you better.
Still have questions?
Email [email protected] with any enquiries.
The nursery will be open on a part time basis so children will only attend for one or two days each week, alongside another nursery, a childminder or days at home. We are currently open on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Do you offer half days?
We only offer full days as our experience has shown this enables children to get the most from their experience. Getting to and from the site takes a while and is part of the pace and rhythm of the day; a half day simply isn;t enough time for children to transition and settle fully. The rhythm of the day includes a 1/2 mile walk into the woods together, deciding together what to do and where to spend the day. There will be a fire or other collective time towards the end of the day, before we walk back to meet parents and carers at pick-up time. Daily routines and rituals are very significant to young children, helping them to feel secure and comfortable, and giving them a sense of belonging to the group.
Will my child really be OK outdoors, all day, in Scotland, in winter????!!!
It’s impossible to overemphasise the importance of CLOTHING! Children who are dressed to be warm and waterproof will enjoy themselves even when it is cold and wet. We provide a kit list, with tips from parents whose children have attended the Wild Sparks playscheme and other outdoor provisions. If you stick to the advice and provide sufficient spares, your child will stay warm and dry and be able to enjoy the Wee Wild Sparks experience.
We have a large cosy bell tent heated by a stove, where we can go to warm up on a cold day and big tarps that we rig up over favourite spots for sheltered play in wet weather.
Children tend to be more resilient than adults when it comes to bad weather. They move more than we do (2-3 child steps to one adult step!) and tend to sit less, and our experienced staff know when to instigate an energetic game to help everyone to warm up. You can help your child to feel happy about coming on wet or gloomy days by commenting positively on the weather, even if secretly you can’t wait to get back to a heated building.
Will the nursery have Local Authority funded places?
We are currently in the process of securing partnership provision and hope to be able to offer funded places to families from April 2018 onwards
What about the toilet!!!!???
On site there is a newly installed composting loo, with a child size seat and handwashing facilities. We’ll designate a pee tree in different parts of the woods, for boys (and girls if they like). We’ve got a potty for emergencies with a tarp to rig up for privacy. As you’d expect from any childcare setting, we make sure that children are clean and comfortable after a loo visit.
What if my child is still in nappies?
We are equipped and happy to take children in nappies. You’ll need to supply nappies and wipes, and we are happy to use cloth nappies if that is your preference.
Why do you take age 3-7?
3 is the youngest that children can join the nursery. We can welcome children up to the age of 7 to support home-schooling or flexi-schooling arrangements.
What are the benefits of spending so much time outdoors?
There are so many benefits to outdoor learning that it is impossible to cover them all here! But here are a few for starters;
- Current recommendations are that children have 3 hours of activity a day, which can be hard to achieve in an indoor setting, but is easy in the woods. On the go all day, children develop muscle tone, stamina and resilience.
- Playing with mud and natural materials promotes development of healthy immune systems.
- After a day with us you can expect your child to eat all their tea and sleep well at night!
- Children develop an attachment to their woods and are enthusiastic about caring for the plants and animals living there. Current research shows that children who have this kind of experience in childhood, grow up to be environmentally aware citizens.
Won’t the children miss out on “real” learning if they are playing in the woods all day long?
Our pedagogical approach is led by the environment and the children’s interaction with it through the natural calendar. Children are encouraged to be autonomous and follow their own interests, with adults observing carefully to make judgements about when to intervene, support and extend play and learning. Being outside in the woods allows children to apply their learning directly in meaningful ways, acquiring skills that will stand them in good stead through their lives. We operate in line with the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), meeting outcomes in Literacy, Numeracy, Health and Wellbeing and the other five curriculum areas; pretty much anything that can be taught inside can be achieved in the woods too! Recently, we observed a group of children gathering sticks to ‘build a fire’. They then spent all morning arranging those sticks into bundles by size rather than actually building the fire. They counted the sticks, and allocated them fairly after an animated discussion; practising their number skills, measuring, estimating and ordering whilst also developing concepts about division - in addition to the language and social skills required for the collaborative group activity!
How will I know what my child is learning?
We use an innovative online system for assessment, recording and reporting each child's learning and development. Parents receive regular updates with photos and observations, clearly outlining how their child is meeting different experiences and outcomes of CfE. Additionally, the things your child says and does will show you! You may well notice them growing in confidence, independence, adventurousness, and showing a positive approach to solving problems. Staff will give you a verbal update at pick-up time, when your child will often greet you with a handful of sticks, leaves, pebbles, providing starting points for discussion.
Can I come for a visit?
Yes! We welcome visits from any interested parents and children. We offer regular stay and play sessions throughout the term but can also arrange a visit outwith these times if that suits you better.
Still have questions?
Email [email protected] with any enquiries.
