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Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Renfrewshire nursery won national award for outdoor learning
West Johnstone Early Learning and Childcare Centre (ELCC) received the Alba Trees Early Years' Trophy at Scotland's Finest Woods Awards for its use of woodland-based learning. This award, presented by the Scottish Forest Commission, recognises the nursery's commitment to outdoor education, including daily sessions in Rannoch Woods through its Forest Kindergarten programme. The nursery also runs family forest days and provides forest bags to encourage families to continue outdoor learning at home. Children in Rannoch Woods (Image: Supplied) Children in Rannoch Woods (Image: Supplied) Read more: UWS project to help new nurses tackle complex healthcare needs Elaine Stevenson, head of centre at West Johnstone ELCC, highlighted the importance of outdoor learning to the nursery. She said: "We have a strong commitment to ensuring our approaches and links to the forest and outdoor environment are key to supporting and nurturing our children's wellbeing, learning, and natural curiosity. "We are committed to transforming the lives of our learners by providing daily opportunities outdoors to play and learn. "We are delighted to be winners in the Early Years category. "Our Forest Kindergarten sessions help children to collaborate both verbally and non-verbally and set themselves challenges and take valuable risks. "During risk-taking play, our children demonstrate perseverance, resilience, and determination as they control their body movements through climbing and balancing. "They apply concentration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. "Ensuring children are supported to spend as much time as they can engaging in outdoor experiences is an integral part of our vision here at West Johnstone ELCC." Children in Rannoch Woods (Image: Supplied) Children in Rannoch Woods (Image: Supplied) Read more: Two-child benefit cap impacting over 1200 homes across Renfrewshire Councillor Emma Rodden, convener of Renfrewshire Council's Education and Children's Services Policy Board, praised the nursery's success. Cllr Rodden said: "West Johnstone ELCC's commitment to daily outdoor learning opportunities and visits to their local woods is a fantastic experience for young children. "This award is well deserved for everything the nursery does to promote forest learning, nurturing children's wellbeing, and building resilience."
Glasgow Times
24-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Paisley high school celebrating attainment boost praised by inspectors
The Education Scotland team highlighted Gleniffer High's 'commitment to providing a wide range of courses tailored to the needs of pupils requiring additional support needs' leading to an increase in attainment at SCQF levels three and four. The inspectors also praised 'the caring, supportive relationships between young people and staff that create a welcoming and nurturing learning environment' and 'senior leaders' approaches to encouraging close partnership working.' Gleniffer High pupils (Image: Renfrewshire Council) The report added: 'Successful partnerships are developing young people's employability skills and contributing to sustained improvements in the number of young people who achieve positive destinations.' (Image: Renfrewshire Council) As areas for improvement, the inspectors said the school should 'continue to develop the 'Gleniffer toolkit' to support teachers in embedding greater consistency in approaches to learning and teaching through professional learning and collaboration' and 'continue to improve approaches to the planning of learning.' The school's successful netball team (Image: Renfrewshire Council) They added: 'Teachers should make full use of all available information about young people to ensure that all learners make the best possible progress.' Lisa Chalmers, headteacher, said: 'I am delighted the hard work and efforts of our staff and learners have been recognised by Education Scotland. 'We endeavour to provide a range of experiences for young people which ensure they have every opportunity to attain and achieve." Gleniffer High's orchestra (Image: Renfrewshire Council) She added: 'This report demonstrates our commitment to getting it right for our learners and celebrating their individual strengths and successes.' Councillor Emma Rodden, convener of Renfrewshire Council's education and children's services policy board, said: "This positive inspection result is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at the school to achieve the very best outcomes for pupils. 'I'm immensely proud of our schools and the work they do for Renfrewshire's children, young people and communities.' Janie O'Neill, director of children's services for Renfrewshire Council, added: 'Gleniffer High deserves this recognition from Education Scotland which reflects the positive relationships which exist between the young people and staff, which I have witnessed firsthand in my visits to the school, and the commitment of the head teacher and wider staff to doing their very best for the young people.' Gleniffer High also recently won a UK-wide Rockets for All competition organised by Big Ideas in partnership with the Imperial Space Lab. A group of fourth year pupils are visiting the London-based lab in June as part of an all-expenses paid trip.
Glasgow Times
10-05-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Thistle Primary chosen as name for new Dargavel school
Thistle Primary School, due to open in August 2027, was chosen from a shortlist of three names during a public vote earlier this year, with councillors now set to give formal approval. Pupils at the existing Dargavel and Bishopton primary schools were asked to suggest names for the new school, and a public vote was then held for two weeks in March, with nearly 2,000 votes cast in total. READ MORE: Business owner hits out at silence over Celtic title party The winning option, Thistle Primary School, was chosen to reflect the nature surrounding the new school. It received 735 votes, narrowly beating Craigton Primary School, which received 723 votes. The third option, Rossland Primary School, which relates to a historic area name, received 476 votes, or 24.6 per cent. The school will have the capacity for 800 pupils and facilities for the wider community, including a full-size sports pitch. READ MORE: Busy town close to Glasgow named 'popular affordable location' for families Members of the council's Education and Children's Services Policy Board will be asked to formally approve Thistle Primary School as the name for the new school when they meet on May 15. Councillor Emma Rodden, the board's convener, said: "We were delighted to see the level of engagement and the number of votes cast – to have nearly 2,000 is a fantastic total and I thank everyone who contributed. "The pupils who came up with the initial longlist of names had some great ideas and we had a tough time narrowing it down to three to go to the vote. "Being able to give the new school a proper name is an important milestone in the project and a key step towards developing a proper identity before we start to welcome pupils and parents in two years time."
