A group of children explored trajectory by launching foam rockets with a foot pump. They tested how angle and force affected height and distance, excitedly discussing the outcome of each launch. MMcK - ”mines goes super far” RW -” I jumped high and it makes my rocket go high“

A group of curious children explored STEM by growing their own salt crystals. They created a countdown calendar, eagerly ticking off each day as they watched the crystals slowly form over a week. This experiment sparked excitement, patience, wonder. JD “my crystals grow in 1 week” RM “it takes long“

Thanks to S. who brought in some tomatoes that he had grown at home to share with his friends and the nursery staff.These tomatoes came from a small tomato plant that S. had bought from our nursery plant sale.The tomatoes were delicious.Well done S. #foodforthought #marvellousmeals

A big thanks to everyone who came along to our Autumn Bookbug session today. We had great fun singing songs, playing games and listening to a story. #bookbug

Our learning about Autumn continues. We have been discussing the changing weather and the colours of the leaves. The children have been designing their own Autumn trees and using some leaves to make leaf prints. #autumn

We have been exploring senses through messy play, using descriptive language to describe the texture we are feeling “it’s slimy”QC,“cold” IV, “it’s soft” FM . Using various tools we explored measurement describing them as full, empty and the sizes, developing mathematical language and understanding.

This week we have been continuing our learning about Autumn through discussions and songs. We have been using the bag with props to learn songs such as 5 Little Leaves, The Leaves Are Falling Down, The Dingle Dangle Scarecrow, 5 Red Apples and 3 Nice Mice. #autumn #songs

Please note that our Bookbug sessions will now take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 2pm. Our first session will be held on Tuesday 7th of October. Details below.

On Friday a group of children went to the woods. They had great fun climbing up and down the hill, playing in the shelter, playing on the rope swing, singing songs around the campfire and throwing stones into the water. #woods

The children have been exploring with loose parts using sticks, buttons, stones, and conkers to create wonderful designs. The children have experimented with measuring sticks to compare lengths and carefully added details using smaller items. #problemsolving #numeracy #criticalthinking

Our children have been busy in the kitchen whipping up homemade flatbreads with homemade garlic butter for our sneck. We measured out the ingredients and rolled the dough until it was flat. These went down a treat! AMcC “mmm I like these” IL “yummy. Can I have more please?” #marvellousmealtimes

This week a child asked ‘Is it Autumn?’ This sparked a discussion about Autumn. We decided to go for a walk to look for signs of Autumn. While walking we noticed the changing colours of the leaves, fallen leaves, and the changes in the weather. We picked some brambles,washed and tasted them. #autumn

This week our children have been spending long periods of time playing in the new digging area and the mud kitchen. They have been using the water but, a variety of containers and wheelbarows to transport water. They have been making a variety of drinks and potions. #waterplay

Some children have been enjoying using different fabrics to dress up. SM- I look like a princess

Have a look at how busy we’ve been since coming back to nursery, lots of play and learning! sway.cloud.microsoft/A92oShyxoWoV...

The children have shown an interest in our apple trees. They have been noticing how the growing apples are changing and are keen to check the trees daily. AV-look the apples are big now SB-they are red and green AC-I like red apples

There has been lots of singing in the nursery garden recently! Using the singing props in our small shed the children have been taking turns to select their favourite nursery rhyme then singing it together as a group. Some children decided to use the willow arch to perform their favourite songs.

When discussing letters we see in the world around us, some of our children mentioned the signs they seen on the way to nursery. Asking if they could show them to their friends we went a walk to see what we could find. Taking pictures we then choose to print them and put them on display in nursery.

Two children rushed into the nursery this morning ’Look what we have found in the nursery garden’ they shouted with excitement. We discussion about why it had fallen from the tree. They helped to wash and chop the apple up before tasting it. #apples #homegrown

Some of the children were helping to harvest the vegetables we have grown before the summer holidays. R-M “ you only pick the red and orange tomatoes.” A-Mc “what is this? It’s Ginormous!” pointing to the courgette. #foodforthought #marvellousmealtimes #literacy

There has been a lot of interest in our outdoor water trays this week. The children chose to play with sea creatures, sharing knowledge about ocean life. We have also found lots of ways to transport water from one tray to the other, using pipes and working in teams to pour and catch the water 🦈🐋

Some children have been playing at shops in the wooden houses and on the steps. ‘Does any want ice cream, ice cream’ L.McK. ‘I have sausage rolls doughnuts and cakes. Would you like some?’ C.M. ‘ I have some Hot Wheels’ M.McK. #shops

Our children are beginning to set up cones independently and taking turns to try and knock them down and to play football. #football

Recently we have been able to enjoy our sandpit again, following help from our families last term to renew the sand. There has been lots of interest, as we have enjoyed burying treasure and digging it up again. Excellent sharing and turn-taking with our resources and space. 🪣🪏🏖️

Today we have developing our ball skills while playing football at the pitch. We have been learning some of the rules of football, how to play in a team and how to score a goal. #ballskills #football

The children’s interest in ball skills have continued this week. We have been playing some more ball games using the cones. We have been developing our ball skills when practicing throwing, catching and rolling the ball. #ballskills

On Monday F.Mc asked if we could play a football skills game. He suggested that we use some cones. He helped me to collect some cones . He set the cones out in a line in the garden. F explained to the children the object of the game. Several children came to join in the game. #football

The children were invited to explore emotions using play dough and loose parts. First, the children used the emotion spoons as a prompt to consider what different emotions look like and how our facial features change when feeling these emotions.

Since coming back some of our children have been exploring the various stages of block play and a small group of children have been building large complex structure and are exploring imaginative play and role play with their structures. “It’s a drive through” HM “It’s the house and park” QC

August 2025 ELC menu

We are very excited to welcome back our children & families tomorrow and are looking forward to meeting our new children & families over the next few weeks 🎉 We hope everyone has had a lovely summer break 😎 #TeamStPats #Welcome

Wishing all of our children lots of luck as they get ready to start Primary 1 tomorrow! We are thinking of you all (& your families) and are sure you will continue to be amazing! We are looking forward visiting you in your classroom over the next few days! #TeamStPats #excitingtimes

We are excited to welcome Miss Laura Kane our new ELCA who has recently joined our team and is settling well within her new role. #TeamStPats

WATER DAY 2025 💦💦 We are having a water day tomorrow, Friday 20th June, as it’s to be a lovely sunny day ☀️ Please ensure your child has a full change of clothes and spare shoes, all labelled clearly with their name. We can’t wait already 😁

The children have made good use of the smart board, showing fantastic IT skills navigating around successfully, playing numeracy games, creating pictures, numbers and letters, also accessing music to dance too along with playing the instruments. D I love dancing, J it’s a dinosaur, A let’s sing too.

Please note there will be no Lending Library until next term. Please can you return your child’s library book and bag to nursery as soon as possible to allow us to organise and check the books for next term. Thanks

We have been using the loose parts in the garden to bring our fantastic ideas to life! DC “We’re making a super fast train with lots of seats” ZB “remember your seatbelts everyone!” CK “it’s going to flamingo land” DC “I’m making a basket to catch the balls”

We have explored parts of plants and their life cycle, as we tend to our nursery garden. Developing our fine and gross motor skills as we pull out weeds of different sizes, discovering the sizes of roots and comparing them. PR “it’s huge the roots are wee though” JO “it’s smaller is that the root”

A big thanks to Malcolm who came to nursery on Thursday to present a ‘Teddy Bears Picnic Singalong’. The children and staff had a great time joining in with the songs using some teddies and soft toys. #music #literacy

We are continuing our interest in caterpillars and butterflies. Today we discussed symmetry and pattern as we made our butterflies. We used a piece of folded paper and a range of coloured paint to create them. #lifecycle #symmetry #art

Some children have enjoyed singing and creating music with a variety of musical instruments. I V “listen to my song” “M I’m playing the drums”

A big thanks to everyone who came along to our Bookbug session today. We had great fun singing songs, playing games and listening to a story. #bookbug

We have been spending lots of time reenacting everyday routines within our home corner, developing our language skills while playing imaginative scenarios. SM- I’m baking a strawberry cake. AH this is onion soup, it’s really hot! SM- we are packing our bags because we are going on our holidays.

We still have some spaces for today’s Bookbug session today at 2pm. If you would like to join us please add your name to the list in the cloakroom. Thanks.

Some of our children found caterpillars in the nursery garden. We read the story “ The Very Hungry Caterpillar’. At group time we learned a new song about the lifecycle of a caterpillar. Several children were able to describe the lifecycle of a caterpillar.

We have been exploring video editing after some of the children expressed an interest in starting our own YouTube channel! The children took turns to capture aspects of our days on iPads before working together to edit them together into fun videos. It’s lovely to see the world through their eyes 🎬

The children are enjoying our outdoor upgraded water area. Lots of fun learning, L found the letters in the water spelling the word fish. Lots of singing about ducks and counting fish. Many fish and ducks have been caught and counted, K I love these fish mines is green.” “I ive got two pink fish.

We have been embracing the lovely Scottish weather this week ☀️🌦️🌧️💨 There has been lots of discussions about the changing weather and how the plants in the garden have grown so quickly recently 🌱 Some of our children have definitely missed the muddy puddles!! ☔️

Thank you to everyone who supported us with our plant sale, your donations were kindly appreciated and will be used to buy resources to help develop the children’s knowledge of the life cycle of the seed/plant as we grow our kitchen garden. #foodforthought #growingourownvegetables #marvellousmeals

We have been creating a variety of structures from large loose parts in the garden. Motorcycles, hovercrafts, homes and ramps have been built using good teamwork and imagination. “This is where the driver sits.” JMcG “We need to build another wall, help me lift this.” SM “That ramp is fastest!” RM