September/October2018Newsletter

DearparentsandfriendsofCowgate,

ThisSeptember/OctobernewsletterbringsyouafunnycommentbySolomonandnewsabout

Klara,whostartedworkinginCowgateUnder5sCentreinAugust.ItsharesapoemaboutSticklandwrittenbyEsmeandSeamusDunnett,andnews

aboutFaren’sbabybrotherRocco,ournewvolunteersfromGeorgeHeriot’sSchool,our

ModernApprenticeOlivia,thegardendevelopments(byHelen)andthe10thannual

FroebelConference.ItshareswithyousomelovelyphotosofEsmeandherbrotherSeamus,

Clemence,Rowan,LeahandIverontheirfirstdayofschool,andalsosomephotosofautumnalprintswhichthechildrenmadewithKasiaand

someautumnwalks.

Inthe‘SharingPractice’section,Fergus’sMumandAlex’sMumsharetwothoughtful,heart-warming

pieces,aboutFergus’ssettling-inperiodatCowgateandabouttheonlinelearningjournals

andlearningstories.

TheFunnyThingsChildrenSay

Solomonlikesoneofouryoungestchildren,Holly(whomallthechildrencall“BabyHolly”),verymuch.OnedayhesaidtoNina,“SometimesIliketocallherBabyOlive,becausesheissmallandhasnohair”!

MeetthePeopleWhoCareForandEducateYourChild:Klara

WhichpartofCowgate’sethosdoyoufeelmostpassionateabout?

Istronglysupporttherecognitionoftheuniquenessofeachchild'spotential&capacityandtheimportanceofplayinchild'sdevelopmentandlearning.SinceIhavestartedworkingatCowgateithasbeenanabsolutepleasuretowatchthechildrenenjoyingandappreciatingthefantasticspaceprovidedforthemandthefreedomofchoicestheyhaveatthenursery.Allthisclearlyimpactsontheirhappymoodandthegeneralatmosphereinthenursery.

What’syourtophandyhintfortreatingchildrenascreativeandproductivepeople?

Ithinkofferingpeoplespace,plentyoftimeandvarietyofresourcesisimportant.Somepeoplemightneedabitofencouragementattimesandmightaskforfeedbackbutothersmightnot.Praisingothersfortryingoutnewthingsandenjoyingtheprocesswhileworkingonsomethingratherthenrushingtoachievethefinalproductontimetosuitothers.

Whatwouldyoutakewithyoutoadesertisland?

Somekindofamixedtapeorplaylist.Ienjoygreatvarietyofmusicdependingonmoodoroccasion.FromabitofLilyAllen,AmyWinehousetoErikSatieandYannTiersen.

Whatwouldyouputinto‘Room101’?

InconsideratebusdriversinEdinburghbecausesomeoftheirdrivingreallyscaresmewhenIcycle.Smartphonesthatalotofpeopleusefartoomuchsotheybecomedistractionintheirlivesandcausefrustrationforothersincludingme.Alltechnologycanbegreatbutinmoderation.

What’syourfunniestCowgatestory?

IhavenotbeenatCowgatethatlongyettohearmanyfunnystories.Iamlookingforwardtowhatthefuturebrings.Actuallytodayoneofthechildrencamerushingtomeandthenstartedtofixmywatchonmywrist.ItwasasweetgesturetoletmeknowhowtowearthewatchproperlyandIappreciatehishelp.Itdidmakemesmile.

What’syourfavouritewaytospendtheweekend?

Iliketogetalieinandnotrushifpossible.Spendingtimewithfamilyandfriends,visitnewplacesandbeactive.Ioftenplayindoororbeachvolleyballwithabunchofgoodfriendsatweekends.VolleyballoftentakesmetonewplacesandIreallyenjoyplayingonScottishbeaches.

Ifyoucouldchooseanyholidaydestination,wherewoulditbeandwhy?

Iloveseasidelocationsbutalsomountainsforskiholidays.SomeexoticislandandperhapsskitriptoItalyorCanadaonedaywouldmakemeveryhappy.

Herearesomethoughtsfromoneofourfamilieswithtwogenerationsof‘Sticklanders’.TheDunnettscreatedthisweepoempresentedwithinacardfeaturingEsme’spictureandSeamus’swords.

ASticklandPoem

GeorgeHeriot’sSchoolVolunteers

ThisAutumn,weareveryfortunatetohavethehelpofsixpupilsfromGeorgeHeriot’sSchool:AnnaonMondayafternoon,KirstyonTuesdaymorning,JoeonWednesdayafternoon,SteffionThursdaymorning,BreigeonTuesdayafternoon,andStruanonFridaymorning.Thankyouverymuchforyourhelp!

CowgateNewsandNotices

Faren’sBabyBrother

OurwarmestcongratulationstoKateandKhusroonthebirthoftheirlittleboy,Rocco,on14thAugust,andtohisbigsisterFaren.

AWarmWelcometoOlivia

InthebeginningofSeptember,wesaidgoodbyetoChristina,SarahandSarah,whohavereturnedtoAustria,andwelcomedOlivia.OliviaisaModernApprentice.Hercoursewilllasttwoyears,andshewillbeatCowgateforoneyear.SheworkshereeverydayexceptMonday,whensheattendscollege.Shehassettledsowellintotheteam,anditalreadyfeelsasthoughshehadalwaysbeenhere.

FirstDayofSchool

ManyoftheolderchildrenatCowgateUnder5sCentrestartedschoolthisAugust.WereceivedsomelovelyphotosfromEsme’sandClemence’sparentsofEsme’sfirstdayatschoolwithherbigbrotherSeamus,andofClemence,Rowan,IverandLeah’sfirstday.Weareveryproudofyouandhopeyouareenjoyingyourtimeatschool!

GardenWorkWeekend

Ahugethankyoutoparents,grandparents,Faren,staff,partnersofstaff,Maxandcakebakerswhohelpedduringtheweekend.Differentpeoplecameatdifferenttimes,everyoneworkedhardandwegotalotdone.Itwasagreatstarttothegardenre-development.And….weenjoyedlotsoflovelysconesandcake.

GardenProgress

Ourlandscapers,MaxandBen,havebeenmakinggoodprogressinthegarden.Theexistingtreehousestructurehashadabitofarefurbishandwehavemostofthenewtreehouseextensionbuilt.Theoldpergolahasgoneandworkwillsoonstartonthenewonealongwiththedecking.Ourplumber,Amy,hascompletedtheplumbingworkinsidethecaretaker’scupboardandwenowhaveawatersupplytotheoutside.Wehavealongdeeptrenchfromthecaretaker’scupboardthroughtothegardenwherethepipeworkwillgo,andwewillsoonhaveouroutsidetaps.

Thechildrenhavebeenfascinatedtoseethechangestakingplace,havingmanyconversationsaboutwhatishappening,watchingwhatMaxandBenaredoingwithavidinterest,andgettingexcitedabouttheprospectofmonkeybars.Thankyouforyourpatiencewiththedisruptiontoyouraccessviathegardendoor.

CongratulationstoHelen,whohasbeensuccessfulinherapplicationforaPractitionerSupportGrantfromtheFroebelTrust!Itwillbeusedtohelpsupportthegardenredevelopment!ThePractitionerSupportGrantsare“availabletoearlyyearssettingsthatareinterestedinfurtherdevelopinganaspectofFroebelianpractice”(furtherinformationcanbefoundontheFroebelTrust’swebsite:https://www.froebel.org.uk/apply/practitioner-support-grant/).

BUYABOARD

Thefirstphaseofthechangestothegardenisprogressingwell.Partofthisworkistoinstalllovelywoodendecking.WewillbeusinghighqualitychunkyDouglas-fir

boardsthatwillbebeautifulandlastalongtime.Wewillbe‘burning’thenamesofallthechildrencurrentlyattheCentre,intothesurfaceoftheboards.Thiswillcreatealovelyconnectionbetweenthemandthenewgarden,makethempartofthehistoryof

theCentre,andbeanoutsideresource.

CANYOUHELPUSCOVERTHECOSTOFTHEDECKING

BYBUYINGABOARD

EACH2.4mBOARDCOSTS11.00POUNDS

Ifyourchild/childrenhavelefttheCentrebutyouwouldliketocontributewewilladdyourchild’s/children’snamestotheboardsalso.

Shouldwecoverthecostofalltheboardsweneed,anyadditionalmoneywillbeusedtopayfortheotherwoodneededtobuildthedecking.

IfyouwanttocontributepleaseputyourmoneyinanenvelopewithyournameonitandhanditintoReception.

THANKYOUSOMUCHANDWARMWISHES

WelcomeAutumn!

ThechildrenwelcomedAutumnbymakingprintsofleaves,seeds,sprigsandfernsonpaperandclaywithKasia.

AnAutumnWalkinPrince’sStreetGardens

SomechildrenjoinedEmmaandSarahonawalkinPrince’sStreetGardens,wheretheysawthetreeswiththeirchangingcolours,Chineselanternsplants,holly,andthecastlelookingdarkandgloomyhighabovethem,andfoundbramblesbehindaboulder.

RecyclingandaVisittotheIndiaBuildingsArchaeologicalDig

SomechildrenalsowentonarecyclingtripwithEmmaandstoppedtoseetheIndiaBuildingsarchaeologicalsite.ExcavationsundertakenbeforethesiteisredevelopedintoahotelhaveuncoveredremnantsofEdinburgh’smedievalhistory,includingtheboundarywallsofresidentialplots,astone-linedwellandapitfilledwithceramicsandanimalbones.Youcanreadmoreaboutthearcheologicaldiganditsfindshere:http://www.aocarchaeology.com/news/article/india-buildings/.

10thAnnualFroebelConference

OnSaturday22ndSeptember,manyCowgatemembersofstaffattendedtheFroebelConference,whichLynnhelpedtoorganiseandrun,aspartoftheEdinburghFroebelNetwork.Thethemeoftheconferencewas“play”.Intheirinspiringtalks,ProfessorTinaBruce,DrSueRobsonandDrSuzanneFlannery-QuinnfromtheUniversityofRoehamptonandDrMarjattaKallialafromtheUniversityofHelsinkispokeabouttheimportanceandvalueofoutdoorplay,ofrich,deepandfulfillingplay,ofchildren’sself-directedactivity,andalsoaboutthewayinwhichadultscansensitivelyandrespectfullysupportandenrichchildren’splay.Theytalkedabouthowthenatureofmanychildren’splayhaschangedoverthedecades,andhowchildren’splayisinfluencedbyadults’valuesandattitudes.Aboveall,theyremindedallthosepresentaboutthebeauty,complexityandirreplaceableimportanceofplay,“thegerminalleavesofall[children’s]laterlife”(FroebelinBrehony,2001:55).LynnalsogaveapresentationaboutplayinInvernessonWednesday26thSeptember.

SharingPractice–Transitions

Joanna,Fergus’sMum,wrotethisbeautifulandheart-warmingpieceaboutFergus’speriodofsettlinginatCowgateUnder5sCentre.I’llstartwiththehappyendingbecausethankfullythereisone!OursonFergushasnowbeenatCowgateforoverayearandit’sapartofhisweekwhichhelooksforwardtoandhelpshimthrive.HeseesCowgateasoneofhisthreeplaceswhereheishappiest–athome,atGrandmaandGrandpa’sandatnursery.Withoutanypromptingfromus,whentakinghimtoCowgateinthemorninghewillshout‘WehavefunwithMichelle!’and‘Let’sgomakeachocolatecrispie!’

LastweekbythetimeIwasleavingtogotowork,hewasbusyhelpingtomakebread(somethingwhichhecertainlywillneverdowithMummy…)andthetimebefore,hewasbeinghelpedbyMichelletohammersomenailshewasinterestedin.WhenIpickFergusup,heisalwaysexcitedtoseeme,andpartofthatexcitementistotellmeabouthisday‘Idopainting–red,black,orange,pink!’‘Iplaypiano’‘Ieatstrawberriesandpeas!’andI’veseenfootageofhimdancinglikemadwithotherswhoattendtoo.Hadyouaskedmenearlyayearagoifwewouldevergettothispoint,Iwouldcategoricallyhavesaid‘no’.ThefirstcoupleofvisitswhenI(hisMum)wasthere,wentfantasticallywell–hejustracedawaytoplayandexplore.ThensomethingchangedasherealisedtheideawasthatMummy,DaddyandGrandpa(whohadbeenlookingafterhimtwiceaweek)wouldn’tbetherewithhim.AtvisitsFerguswouldstarttoscreamandcryonthewaytherewhenherealisedwhereweweregoing.Itwasincrediblydifficulttoseehimsodistressedparticularlywhenathomehe(sofar!)isveryrarelyupsetandisacontentandhappyweesoul.OftenhisdistresswassogreatthatIcouldn’tevengethimoutofmyarms–wefrequentlyonlymanagedtobethereforhalfanhourbeforewewouldhavetoleave.Thingsdidn’timprovewitheachvisit.Ifanything,theygotworse.Ifounditverydifficultandgenuinelyfeltitwasnevergoingtochange.IfeltasifIwastryingtowearhimdownintoacceptingsomethingthatmadehimunhappyandthatmademefeelsosadandupset.Throughoutthisperiod,Cowgatesupportedusasafamilyineverywaythattheycould.BothKarenandMichellecameouttoourflattoplaywithFergusinhisownenvironmentandthiswassoimportanttobuildingtrustwithFergus.Wedidn’tfeelrushedorliketherewasadeadline.OnedaywhenmyhusbandLawrencetookFergusonasettlingvisit(whichhadbeengoingonforacoupleofmonths)FerguswasverydistressedandLawrencejustkeptreassuringhimandafteraverydifficulthour,hebegantocalmandwithDaddy’shelpbecamehappytoexplorethingsabit.Thenextvisit,Imanagedtobeupstairsoutofsightforanhour,thefollowingoneFergussatwithothersforlunchandgradually,overaperiodoftimethatwasrightforFergus,weincreasedthelengthofhistimespentatnursery.

Ferguswillnowonsomedaysthataren’tnurserydaysaskme‘wegoseeMichelle?’whichissuchanamazingchange.ItoohavechangedthewaythatIthinkaboutnursery.FormeIalwaysthoughtofitassomethingthatwasnecessarybutnotnecessarilythebestorhappiestthingforusasafamily.IthoughtI’dalwaysfinddroppinghimoffdifficult.NowIlovedroppinghimoffandwatchinghimraceaway,excitedtogetonwithwhateverhascaughthisattention.IhaveseenFergusgainsomanythingsfrombeingthere–notlongafterhestarted,hebegansaying‘hiya’andwavingtootherchildrenwhenwewereoutinthepark–somethingwhichhehadneverdonebefore.Hehasgainedconfidenceandsocialskillswhichisfantastic,butaboveall,heissimplyhappyandcontentandenthusiasticaboutbeingatCowgate.Iknowthatheisn’tsimplyputtingupwithituntilwegotopickhimup–it’sobviousthatheisgenuinelyexcitedattheprospectofgoingandthatheistrulyhappyandhimselfwhenheisthere.IloveitwhenIseehimbeforeheseesmeatpickupandIcanseewhathe’sgettingupto–it’ssoreassuringtoseethatheisjustbeingFergus.WhatIloveaboutCowgateisthatallthestafftrulyvieweachchildasanindividualandsupportthemtobethemselvesanddrawoutwhatisnaturallyinsideofthem–therearenopreconceivedideasaboutwhatthechildren‘should’beinterestedin;nosetofobjectivestobemet–justsupportingeachchildtoexploretheenvironmentontheirownterms(withinreason!)andtoexpressthemselvesjustastheywouldathome.Fergushasbeenshownsomuchgenuinecareandaffection–IhaveseenhimruntowardsMichelleforacuddlewhichissolovelytosee.Hecanstillgetupsetifotherchildrencry(givenwe’reexpectinganotherbabyinNovember,wishusluck!)butheisquicklyhappyagainafteracuddleandsomereassurance.TherewasapointwhereIthoughthewouldneversettleatCowgateandIhadevenstartedtolookintothepossibilityofchildmindersandnow,Ican’timagineseeingFergusashappyasheis,inanyotherenvironment.

SharingPractice–LearningStoriesandLearningJournals

Alex’sMum,Kristina,alsosharedwithusherlovelyandencouragingviewsabouttheonlinelearningjournalsandlearningstories.

Asafamilywepersonallylovetheonlinelearningjournals…thewriting,thenarrativesandthemediaarejustanamazingwayforustokeepintouchwithAlex’sexperiencesofthesetting…ItisalsoakeyandimportantpartforusaswehavefamilythatliveinGreeceandsothishelpsustofeelconnectedasafamily,tojointlyshareanddiscussalltheinterestingthingsthatarehappeninginhislife….Itisalsoalovelyfamilytimethingtodo…weallgathertogethertoreadthenarrativeandlookatthephotosandvideos-ourheartsarefullofjoyaswereadthestoriesofAlex’slifeatnursery…manytimesthishappensvirtuallywithourfamilyinGreecethroughfacetime….adigitalfamilyencounterthroughstoriesthatconnectus…

IalsolearnalotfromEmmaabouthowsheobservesAlex,howshewarmlyandgentlywritesabouthisexperiences,abouthowshesensitivelyanalyseswhatsheisseeingandhowshesuggestsnewthingstodotosupportandexpandhisinterestsmoredeeply…Ifindherwritingphilosophicalandinspiring…throughthisIamlearninghowsheisdocumentingAlex’sexperienceswithinaFroebelianapproach…andIamtryingtodothesameathome.Iamalsosharingthiswiththewiderfamilysothathomeandnurserylifeandpracticescanbeconnectedevenmore…

ItisoftenthecasethatAlexandIlookatthestoriesonlinetogether,andhepointsatthephotosandsmiles….itseemstomethatheisproudandhappyaboutwhathesees.Hereallylovesvideostoo….Healsopointsathisfriendsandlooksatmeandsmiles….

Itwouldbeamazingtocreateaversionthathecouldusebyhimselftoo….heisverycompetentwithtechnologye.g.hecanuseyoutubeandthephoneexcellentlyandsoIfeelthathewouldeasilynavigateanonlinesystemthatwouldbesimpleforhimintermsofclicks….Maybesimilartoayoutubevideo…useofaudiostoriestoaccompanythesnapshots,orevenashortvideoclip/audioclipfromEmma(hiskeyworker)withherstory/analysisaboutthephotosandvideos,hislearningandnextstepsetcIthinkmightworkwelloritwouldbereallyinterestingtoexploreasapossibility.

Withwarmwishes,LynnandtheCowgateTeam

Backgroundpicturecredit:AndrewYu,“AutumnFrolics”(https://www.fotovue.com/

features/best-ten/best-ten-andrew-yu/)