FAQs
Isn’t going all day, every day in the woods a bit much for such young children?
Wee Wild Sparks is open on a part-time basis so children attend for anything from 1 to 4 days each week. Throughout the day there are rest times where we eat, share stories and warm up around the campfire. Children are free to run around or take it easy to match their energy levels, with supportive staff on hand to make sure they are keeping warm and dry. Our children soon build stamina and learn to understand and respond to their bodies' needs; especially those who attend for 2 days or more.
Do you offer half days?
Our transition process for all children involves 2-3 half day visits. Aside from this we currently only offer full days as we find the pace of the day does not work well on a half day basis and most of the time is taken journeying in and preparing to leave!
Does the nursery have Local Authority funded places?
Yes, we work in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council and can offer funded places to families from any local authority with their pre-school or ante-pre-school years.
Will my child really be okay 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. You can also watch our video getting dressed for Wild Sparks. 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 cabin 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 can be very resilient 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 too. Our experienced staff know when to instigate an energetic game to help everyone to warm up - staff included! 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!
How do you manage handwashing and eating?
Children can bring their own packed lunch, or lunch can be provided by Wee Wild Sparks. In addition, we also offer children a healthy snack and warm drink every day. We carry in warm water and soap to ensure children's hands are germ free before eating and after using the toilet. Watch our videos washing hands in the woods and eating in the woods.
What about the toilet?
On site there are a number of composting toilets, with child sized seats and hand-washing facilities. For boys, we have designated 'pee trees' in different parts of the woods. We’ve got a potty for emergencies, with a tarp to rig up for privacy. As you’d expect from any childcare setting, staff always make sure children are clean and comfortable after a loo visit. See our facilities in our video going to the toilet in the woods.
What if my child is still in nappies?
We are equipped and happy to take children in nappies. You will 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.
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 for the rest of 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! A concrete example of this is a reccent observation: we watched 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, after an animated discussion, allocated them fairly; 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, 'Evidence Me' 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 at home 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 or mud, providing starting points for discussion.
Can I come for a visit?
Yes! We welcome visits from any interested parents and children, to register your interest and request a visit please complete this enquiry form and someone will get back to you.
Still have questions?
Email [email protected] with any enquiries.
Wee Wild Sparks is open on a part-time basis so children attend for anything from 1 to 4 days each week. Throughout the day there are rest times where we eat, share stories and warm up around the campfire. Children are free to run around or take it easy to match their energy levels, with supportive staff on hand to make sure they are keeping warm and dry. Our children soon build stamina and learn to understand and respond to their bodies' needs; especially those who attend for 2 days or more.
Do you offer half days?
Our transition process for all children involves 2-3 half day visits. Aside from this we currently only offer full days as we find the pace of the day does not work well on a half day basis and most of the time is taken journeying in and preparing to leave!
Does the nursery have Local Authority funded places?
Yes, we work in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council and can offer funded places to families from any local authority with their pre-school or ante-pre-school years.
Will my child really be okay 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. You can also watch our video getting dressed for Wild Sparks. 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 cabin 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 can be very resilient 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 too. Our experienced staff know when to instigate an energetic game to help everyone to warm up - staff included! 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!
How do you manage handwashing and eating?
Children can bring their own packed lunch, or lunch can be provided by Wee Wild Sparks. In addition, we also offer children a healthy snack and warm drink every day. We carry in warm water and soap to ensure children's hands are germ free before eating and after using the toilet. Watch our videos washing hands in the woods and eating in the woods.
What about the toilet?
On site there are a number of composting toilets, with child sized seats and hand-washing facilities. For boys, we have designated 'pee trees' in different parts of the woods. We’ve got a potty for emergencies, with a tarp to rig up for privacy. As you’d expect from any childcare setting, staff always make sure children are clean and comfortable after a loo visit. See our facilities in our video going to the toilet in the woods.
What if my child is still in nappies?
We are equipped and happy to take children in nappies. You will 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.
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 for the rest of 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! A concrete example of this is a reccent observation: we watched 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, after an animated discussion, allocated them fairly; 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, 'Evidence Me' 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 at home 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 or mud, providing starting points for discussion.
Can I come for a visit?
Yes! We welcome visits from any interested parents and children, to register your interest and request a visit please complete this enquiry form and someone will get back to you.
Still have questions?
Email [email protected] with any enquiries.
