Back to school in Strathconon
Marybank Primary School Parent Council was awarded £6,100 to fund outdoor equipment for the nursery and library resources for the school to enhance learning and improve child development.
Rural schools are often at the very heart of the community, and keeping them viable can impact greatly on wider community life. Marybank Primary School Parent Council, in consultation with children and staff, developed this project to improve resources available to all youngsters in the school and nursery, and to help build the school’s reputation in the wider area as a well-resourced facility.
Marybank is in a cluster with Strathconon and Strathgarve schools. Strathconon school was recently at risk of being mothballed, and the school roll of Strathgarve has declined in recent years.
Marybank is the only nursery for the cluster. The aim of this project was to support and maintain the attractiveness of the school and nursery to ensure that this important community asset continues to be on offer in the long term.
The project was to fund a range of new school resources, to enhance both indoor and outdoor play and learning, outdoor equipment for the nursery and new books for the library. There is an expectation (Care Inspectorate "My World Outdoors" document) that nurseries can provide children with routine access to stimulating outdoor play areas and that part of every day will be spent outdoors. However, there is no statutory funding available to support this.
The school had previously purchased outdoor resources including a sand pit, wendy house, climbing frame, slide, stacking crates and outdoor potion-making kits to enhance outdoor learning experiences for the nursery children. This project would further enhance this provision through the purchase of two wooden open-sided shelters, outdoor kitchen units, and a wooden climbing structure, along with various outdoor play items such as muddy play kit, chalkboards, construction set, coloured kinetic sand and storage equipment.
Many of the books in the school library had become damaged over time, were outdated and needed to be replaced.
Due to budgetary pressures, there is no funding from the Highland Council to cover the cost of replacing books, and no statutory requirement for library provision in primary school settings.
The school cluster has achieved the Rights Respecting Schools Bronze Award for its commitment to learning about children's rights within the school community. They are now working towards the Silver Award. As part of this process, they also wanted to update the school library to ensure there is a diverse and inclusive variety of books available. An updated library with a range of inspiring books will help encourage more reading in the school day and beyond.
Engaging, up-to-date books will allow the library to provide material on all aspects of equal opportunity, such as race, gender, disability, and different family lifestyles. The wide-ranging book list proposed includes children's classics, poetry, graphic novels, non-fiction and novels by award-winning authors.
The funding from EDF Corriemoillie supported around £3,000 of outdoor equipment for the nursery and a similar amount to develop the library.
Numerous exciting resources have been purchased to help to further enrich the nursery environment, which has benefitted all nursery attendees. Items such as the "Super shelter" have made it much easier for the nursery children to be able to play outside in inclement weather/when it has been hot. Items such as the "climbing crest" have helped to encourage active outdoor play and encourage the development of coordination for the nursery children. The additional resources funded through Corriemoillie make it easier for nursery staff to plan activities with the nursery children. The Marybank pupils have developed a new library area on the back of the purchase of their new books. Pupils are reporting being more interested in the new books which have been deliberately selected to discuss modern themes and to be representative and up to date than the books that were previously in the library. Pupils are now in the process of designing a cosy and inviting space which encourages pupils to engage with the new books.
Parent council volunteer Sarah said:
| “The nursery resources have made such a difference to Marybank nursery, the outdoor space is packed with exciting and engaging toys and resources for the children to play with/on which helps to develop confidence and coordination. Marybank nursery staff have reported how the new resources provide a wider range of activities to occupy the children which helps to further ensure that they enjoy their time at nursery. The funding of these resources helps to keep our small, rural school an attractive and vibrant facility where local families are pleased to send their children. Fantastic support from Foundation Scotland throughout the process, thank you!” |
A Marybank pupil said of the purchase of the library books:
| "Since we've got the new books, I'm a bit more excited for reading, and we use the library more with the teacher.” |
It is hoped that having new and engaging library books will encourage a love of reading in Marybank pupils which will improve their aspirations for the future.