Southside mums create outdoor nursery
CHILDREN at a southside nursery are to be the first in Glasgow to swap stuffy classrooms for the great outdoors.
Sheltered by a leafy canopy in Pollok park, toddlers will sleep in hammocks, climb trees and experience nature at first hand.
Woodland Outdoor Kindergartens' classrooms are wooded spots behind the Burrell Collection with trees and blue sky replacing the more-usual four walls and a roof.
Two first-time mums – Debbie Simmers from Muirend, and Alison Latta from Giffnock – came up with the idea.
The pair heard about Scandinavian-style outdoor kindergartens elsewhere in Scotland – there are two in Perthshire and one in Fife – and decided to start one in Glasgow.
Debbie (31), who has a nine-month-old daughter, Sarah, told The Extra: "Alison and I have known each other since we were four and grew up together, spending our days outdoors playing.
"We both have young daughters and wanted them to enjoy being out and not stuck inside watching TV.
"So just before Christmas we came up with having something like this for three to five-year-olds, and it's all happened so quickly -- although it's been hard work setting it up".
She and Alison (31) contacted park bosses about using the space for their nursery and won permission to open in September.
Children who attend the kindergartens will learn about animal tracking, den building and vegetable planting, although they will also follow the national curriculum.
Sites will be risk assessed before children visit and staff (at a ratio of one to six kids) will have a clear view so they can see strangers approaching.
Although youngsters will mainly spend their days outdoors, Eastwood parish church will be the base of the activities – and a wet-weather alternative to rained-off outdoor fun.
Debbie, a former residential child care worker, added: "We already have 20 children booked for the start (cost is 39 per day).
"But these are generally made by people such as teachers who know the benefits for youngsters an outdoor nursery would make.
"We want to encourage those who think this is a wild idea into registering their children".
Find out more at www.woodlandoutdoorkindergartens.co.uk or call 0844 736 5865.
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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