We would like to extend a warm welcome to the children and families who have joined us recently. We hope you will quickly begin to feel a sense of belonging within this community and will play your part in ensuring it’s continued success. The team here at Thornlaw strive to ensure that we provide the same standard of care which we would expect for our own children and grandchildren, ensuring your time here with us at Thornlaw Nursery is happy and productive.
STAFF TEAM
Claire Morrison Head of Nursery
Linda Norwood Child Development Team Leader
Kimberley McConville Lead Practitioner Attainment
Nicola Fahey Child Development Officer (Part Time) (Red group)
Ronda Cheng Child Development Officer (Part Time) (Red group)
Christina McDermott Child Development Officer (Red group)
Ashley Lynass Child Development Officer (Red group) (Temporary)
Judith Yuile Child Development Officer (Part Time) (Yellow Group)
Helen Conway Child Development Officer (Yellow group)
Hadia Ali Child Development Officer (Yellow group) (Temporary)
Gail Brannigan Child Development Officer (Green group)
Lyndsey Watson Child Development Officer (Green group)
Stephanie Collins Child Development Officer (Purple group)
Rebbekah Gallacher Child Development Officer (Purple group)
Marie Stuart Child Development Officer (Blue group)
Laura McKinnon Child Development Officer (Blue group)
Basharat Hanif Support for Learning Worker
Joanna MacDonald Support for Learning Worker
Kiren Singh Support for Learning Worker
Jane Gunn Clerical Support Assistant
David Adam Janitor
Michelle McLeod Day Assistant
UPCOMING HOLIDAYS
April – Spring Holiday (Easter)
- Nursery closes at 2.30pm on Friday, 4th April 2025
- Monday, 7th April – Monday 21st April 2025 (Spring Break)
- Nursery returns on Tuesday, 22nd April 2025
May
- Monday, 5th May 2025 (May Holiday)
- Thursday 22nd May 2025 (In-service day)
- Friday, 23rd May 2025 and Monday, 26th May 2025 (May weekend)
June
- Nursery closes at 1.00pm on Wednesday 25th June 2025
SICKNESS AND ILLNESS POLICY REMINDER
Any child who is unwell should not attend, regardless of whether they have a confirmed infection. Children with diarrhoea and/or vomiting should be excluded until they have had no symptoms for 48 hours after an episode of diarrhoea and/or vomiting. Coughs and runny noses alone need not be a reason for exclusion but if the child is unwell, they should not attend. Skin rashes should be professionally diagnosed, and a child should only be excluded following appropriate advice.
Children should only be excluded when there is good reason. Families will be contacted if children appear unwell or complain of being unwell, for any reason, and unable to cope with nursery.
If your child is unwell at home and is unable to attend nursery, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible.
NURSERY FUND RAISING
As you will all be aware, our summer trip to ‘Heads of Ayr farm park’ is arranged for Wednesday 11th June 2025 at a cost of £4212. Please note that each child must be accompanied by their own parent / carer. A packed lunch will be provided by nursery for each child and their accompanying adult. If you would like to provide your own packed lunch, then you can. More information will follow as we get closer to the summer.
So far, we have raised £2191.35, this a fantastic amount, however, we still have quite some way to go to reach our total. Thank you to all our families who have taken part in our various fund-raising events. We raised £500 from our sponsored walk and £186.35 from our wear your PJs to nursery day. We have also had a donation from the Glasgow Care Foundation of £800.
We have some more fund-raising events coming up, such as our bake sale and Sponsored Summer fun day.
If you have any suggestions on fund raising ideas, we’d love to hear them. Please speak to a member of staff and share your ideas.
TOY FUND
Toy Fund is a voluntary suggested contribution of £2 per week, however you may pay more or less if you wish. Toy Fund helps us provide extras that we wouldn’t normally be able to do such as outings, celebrations and gifts, all children benefit from the toy fund, so please try to contribute when you can. If we have no Toy Fund then we will be unable to continue with seasonal shows or seasonal / birthday treats for the children and outings, there will be no baking or cooking activities.
Toy fund can be paid weekly on a Tuesday in nursery to Jane Gunn, Clerical Support Assistant or by bank transfer, please speak to Jane Gunn, Clerical Support Assistant if you wish to pay via bank transfer.
Toy Fund contributions are banked each week, and the books and receipts are always available for inspection. The toy fund is audited annually according to the council’s financial regulations.
PARENT PARTNERSHIPS
Thank you to all our families who joined us for ‘Come Lunch with Me’. Feedback received from parents and children was that all involved enjoyed being part of our lunch time experience. Parents were very impressed by the children’s independence skills and were able to encourage some of the children to try new foods.
THINK EQUAL
Our new ‘Think Equal’ programme is now up and running and the children are enjoying being part of this. ??
The ‘Think Equal’ Early Years Programme is based around social and emotional learning. Think Equal is year-long programme, which all pre-school children can take part in. All families with pre-school children have received details on this, however if you would like more information then please speak to Linda Norwood (Team Leader)
UPCOMING NURSERY EVENTS
Parents in the Park- Rebbekah and Ashley are our Outdoor Learning champions and have begun our programme of outdoor learning with a small group of parents and children. Parents who have participated so far have found this fun and informative. Our next sessions of Parent’s in the Park will begin on Thursday 6th May. There will be six sessions in total. Parents will be expected to join all six sessions along with their child. Please look out for a sign-up sheet coming out soon.
Bookbug sessions – Helen will be offering Bookbug sessions. Bookbug sessions will be offered twice per month, one morning session and one afternoon session. The first session will be on Monday 28th April. Places for Bookbug will be limited to eight spaces, please look out for a sign-up sheet coming out soon.
Big Chef / Little Chef – Hadia will now be leading our Big Chef / Little Chef sessions. Parents will be invited to come along and make a healthy meal with their child to then take home, along with the ingredients to try at home with the whole family. Families who have participated so far have really enjoyed cooking with their child and have found it fun and informative. These sessions will take place on the last Friday of each month. Next session will be Friday 25th April. Please keep a look out for details on Learning Journals and on our Parent notice board, located outside Head of Nursery office.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Friday 2nd May – SMK photography will be in nursery taking professional photographs of the children. Families are welcome to bring siblings into nursery to have group photographs taken. Photographs will then be available for families to purchase.
Tuesday 13th May – Summer Fun Day fundraiser 15.30-17.30. We are looking for Parents to help with stalls, such as beat the goalie, hook a duck any many more, if you can help, please speak to a member of staff. We are also looking for donations for our tombola stall, if you have any unwanted gifts or bottles at home, please donate them into the nursery office.
Wednesday 11th June – Head of Ayr farm park trip. Please note that each child must be accompanied by their own parent / carer.
Wednesday 18th June – Pre-School Graduation
PRE-LOVED CLOTHING RAIL / FOOD DONATIONS
In our corridor you will find a pre-loved clothing rail, you will also find a selection of sanitary products, nappies, wipes and other useful items, please feel free to have a look and take anything that you would have use for.
We also have regular donations of food products, these are normally on display in the nursery corridor, please feel free to take any of the food products you would like.
REMINDERS
Clothing - As part of our curriculum we play outside in all weathers so please make sure your child comes to nursery suitably dressed in a warm coat with appropriate footwear. If possible, could you provide a pair of wellington boots that your child can leave in nursery. It is advisable to bring a change of clothes for your child to leave at nursery. We do not have any spare clothes, so this is essential, as learning can be a messy business. If your child has been sent home with spare nursery clothes, could you please ensure that you return these ASAP.
Children should also have shoes that they can manage to take on and off by themselves, ideally Velcro straps are best.
Children’s Trays – Each child has their own allocated tray, located opposite the Head of Nursery’s office. Please ensure that you check your child’s tray daily, as you will find important information here.
Home Links – Please remember to return your Play Along Maths, Library books and Science Bears on time, this allows another child and family to experience these.
BRINGING TOYS TO NURSERY
We understand that some children may wish to bring their own toys to nursery, however we would appreciate if you encouraged your child not to bring toys to nursery. This can often cause upset for your child when other children want to play with their special toy and toys can often become lost or broken. We are not responsible for any toys that your child brings to nursery. Please speak to a member of staff if you have any concerns regarding this.
Attention all Parents and families
Please refrain from using mobile phones in the nursery.
It is nursery policy that mobile phones are not used within the nursery. This helps to ensure the privacy and respect of the children and families using the nursery. Your child will also be keen to talk to you about their day and will want to know you are listening to them and able to respond. Please make your calls or texts before or after you enter the building.
Gentle reminder
Dogs are not permitted on the school grounds. Please DO NOT bring dogs onto the school grounds.
NURSERY ARRIVAL AND COLLECTION TIMES
Unless you have been given different instructions from your child’s key worker – sessions are as follows;
MORNING SESSION
08.00-12.30
AFTERNOON SESSION
13.00-17.30
MORNING CHILDREN
Please ensure your child is in nursery no later than 09.15. This ensures that your child’s and other children’s learning is not interrupted.
AFTERNOON CHILDREN
Please ensure your child is in nursery no later than 13.15. This ensures that your child’s and other children’s learning is not interrupted. Please note that the nursery door is not manned between the hours of 13.15 and 14.00, due to staff lunches as such there will NOT be a member of staff available to let you into nursery after 13.15 therefore you must have your child in nursery before 13.15 for their afternoon session.
Collection time is between
15.00-15.30
and
16.30-17.30
WEB PAGE & FACEBOOK
We have our own web page which can be found at www.thornlaw-nursery.glasgow.sch.uk
Facebook - Thornlaw Nursery
CONTACT DETAILS
Nursery contact can be made by telephone, email or in person
Telephone 0141 638 3176
Email -headteacher@thornlaw-nursery.glasgow.sch.uk