The 8th of September marked International Literacy Day and the children at Glen Outdoor School had a great day marking the special event. The children really enjoyed sharing their favourite stories with their friends and we had great fun in our teepee. Here’s some pics from the day…
We are delighted to let you know that Glen Outdoor School, Barrack is now taking bookings for Naíonra. Park Outdoor School, Letterkenny, started Naíonra in 2015 and it has been a major success.
Studies have shown that there are added benefits to the development of children including linguistic, cognitive, academic, literacy and self-esteem to name a few.
Call the team at Glen Outdoor School on 086 173 7748 to find out more.
We had a great day supporting this year’s National Pyjama Day. Run by Early Childhood Ireland, it’s a great opportunity to support some amazing charities and this year all funds will go towards three children’s charities, each supporting children under 6 years of age with additional needs. The children had a great day and here’s some pics from Glen, Ray and Letterkenny…..
We’re settling into 2017 really well and enjoying getting back into the swing of things. Welcome back to all the Early Learning Schools’ children in Glen, Letterkenny and Ray and a big welcome to all the new children who have just started their ECCE place.
It’s an exciting time for children and parents and we’re looking forward to helping them create some very special memories.
We’ve lots of exciting learning planned for this term as well as plenty of games, art and crafts and outdoor fun.
Here are some pics of the children in action on their first few weeks back.
We had a wonderful evening at Glen and Ray Outdoor School celebrating Hallowe’en with a fun storytelling session. Families gathered in Ray for ‘Fun in the Forest’ and in Glen for ‘Tales in Our Teepee’.
The children had great fun playing traditional Hallowe’en games like bobbing for apples and listening to Hallowe’en tales. Everyone enjoyed the delicious homemade pumpkin soup that the children prepared themselves!
Thanks to everyone who came along and took part. It was ‘spooktacular’. Check out the pictures below….
We’re busy putting the final preparations in place for our Easter camps. There’s going to be lots of fun with science experiments, teabag rockets, campfire cook-offs, twig towers, painting with magnets and much, much more!
Our Easter camps run daily from 10am – 2pm and cost €50 per week.
We still have some availability so give us a call to book your children’s place today….
A lack of sunshine didn’t dampen our fun this summer and we really enjoyed hosting a series of week long summer camps throughout June, July and August. Each of the summer camps had a different theme combining the magic of the outdoors with science experiments, natural arts and crafts, drama and music, water fun, baking and getting fit. The children had a ball. Check out the pictures below…
We really enjoyed our night at the Early Childhood Ireland ‘Play on the Brain Conference’ in Dublin last weekend. It was great to meet so many other childcare professionals around Ireland and it was lovely to catch up with old friends.
We were thrilled that the Glen Outdoor School won two learning stories’ awards, as well as an overall award on the night. It really was the icing on the cake.
The conference was also very useful in terms of discussing key issues affecting our profession including commercial rates and VAT, ECCE issues, inspection processes, support for children with additional needs, as well as issues around recognising the childcare sector as a profession with appropriate pay and conditions.
Congratulations to all our staff and to the parents and children who support us. We couldn’t do it without everyone’s help and it really is a great team effort.
We’re very excited about the upcoming Early Childhood Ireland ‘Play on the Brain’ conference which is being held this weekend, Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April at the Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin. The two day event will involve over 40 inspirational early years’ practitioners and practices from around the country and will recognise the positive impact they have on children and families. The awards will be presented by Nóirín Hayes, visiting Professor at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin and our very own Glen Outdoor School team will receive two ‘Learning Stories’ awards. We are also in the running to receive an ‘Overall’ award at the conference.
The first award is in recognition of The Glen Outdoor School “Enormous Turnip” activity. The activity takes places in autumn, the same time as harvest season and the children re-enacted The Enormous Turnip story so they could harvest their own pumpkin. The children put so much effort into it and they had to pull and transport the pumpkin. Parents often ask, how will we do all this and we reply, the Glenswilly way….
The second award, which has been shortlisted for the overall award, is in recognition of “Our Christmas Play”. The children gathered their ideas of what they’d like their Christmas play to look like and then went around and gathered up all natural, outdoor materials to create their stage and setting. It was truly wonderful to watch children use their imagination and create something brilliant from the materials that surrounded them. They’re hoping to have something very special for next year too.
Early Childhood Ireland represents over 3,500 childcare professional members who support over 100,000 children and their families through preschool, afterschool and full day-care provision nationwide. We’re honoured to be recognised in this way and we look forward to a great night on Friday. For more information on the awards and Early Childhood Ireland contact Carmel Doyle 087 247 3537.
