Aithisg sgrùdaidh ‘fìor mhath’ aig sgoil-àraich san Eilean Sgitheanach

Tha an sgoil-àraich aig Bun-Sgoil Shlèite air ìre àrd agus aithisg mhath dha-rìribh fhaotainn às dèidh an sgrùdaidh mu dheireadh aca le Luchd-sgrùdaidh a’ Chùraim.

Mhol an aithisg grunn fheartan a tha a’ cur ri àrainneachd àrachail is bhrosnachail, a’ gabhail a-steach cothrom air goireasan fìor mhath a-staigh agus a-muigh, agus ag àrach taic bho sgioba de dhaoine aig a bheil fìor dheagh eòlas air a’ chloinn.

‘Bha a’ chlann a’ faighinn cùram àraich agus taic bho luchd-obrach a bha coibhneil, dàimheil agus càirdeil. Bha luchd-teagaisg a’ cur luach air guth na cloinne agus ag èisteachd gu mothachail ris na h-iarrtasan aca, agus bha sin ag innse dhuinn gun robh am barailean is am beachdan cudromach. Bha clann a’ faighinn taic èifeachdach tro eadar-obrachaidhean smaoineachail a bha air an dèanamh ann an deagh àm, a chuir ri am mothachadh air tèarainteachd agus a bhrosnaich an sunnd san fharsaingeachd.’

‘Bha eòlasan beairteach, brosnachail agus inntinneach air an tabhann do chloinn agus bha seo gam brosnachadh gu bhith feòrachail is cruthachail, ceistean fhuasgladh agus am mac-meanmna a chleachdadh. Bha cothroman cluiche agus ionnsachaidh a’ toirt buaidh mhath air leasachadh, slàinte, sunnd agus toileachas na cloinne. Airson na mòr-chuid dhen ùine, bha clann a’ faighinn buannachd bho chluiche gun bhriseadh, a’ toirt cothrom dhaibh a dhol an sàs sa chluiche aca agus spòrs a bhith aca. Mheudaich seo toileachas agus com-pàirteachas na cloinne.’

‘Bha an luchd-obrach air smaoineachadh gu math mun àite-chluiche a bha iad air a chruthachadh agus bha e tarraingeach, spòrsail is brosnachail. Bha e dachaigheil, cofhurtail agus le àirneis aig ìre àrd. Bha cruth an t-seòmair-chluiche agus stòradh ghoireasan a’ toirt taic do dheagh eòlas cluiche is ionnsachaidh. B’ urrainn dhan chloinn goireasan a thaghadh leotha fhèin agus an cluiche fhèin a stiùireadh’.

‘Bha spiorad aoigheil, blàth is in-ghabhalach ann do chloinn is theaghlaichean agus bha seo a’ cur luach orra mar chom-pàirtichean. Bha luchd-teagaisg a’ gabhail ri cultar de leasachadh leantainneach, a bha a’ leigeil leis a’ chloinn eòlasan matha a bhith aca gu cunbhalach. Bha seo a’ toirt àrainneachd thoilichte, shàbhailte is thaiceil dhan chloinn agus dhan teaghlaichean.’

Thuirt Heather Loughlin, Ceannard an Gnìomh aig an sgoil: “Tha an Sgoil-Àraich air leth fortanach gu bheil an togalach ùr sgoinneil againn agus na cothroman mìorbhaileach airson ionnsachadh a-muigh anns na raointean iongantach againn air a’ bhlàr a-muigh. Ach, ’s e am feart as motha a th’ againn an seo aig an Sgoil-Àraich an sgioba thràth-bhliadhnaichean dealasach, àrachail, dìcheallach agus fiosrachail againn a bhios a’ dèanamh an uile-dhìchill gach latha gus cothroman ionnsachaidh air leth a thoirt seachad. Tha mi air leth toilichte gu bheil an aithisg sgrùdaidh a’ sealltainn cho àrachail, sgileil agus dealasach ’s a tha an luchd-obrach, seach gu bheil an luchd-obrach aig cridhe na Sgoil-Àraich againn. Tha iad cho eòlach air a’ chloinn agus tha a’ chlann a’ soirbheachadh air sgàth an cuid cùraim, brosnachaidh agus eòlais.”

Thadhail an Comhairliche Iain MacFhionnlaigh, a tha na Chathraiche an dà chuid air Comataidh Foghlaim agus Comataidh Sgìre an Eilein Sgitheanaich is Ratharsair aig a’ Chomhairle, air an sgoil-àraich na bu tràithe an t-seachdain seo ach am faiceadh e an sgoil-àraich ag obair. 

Thuirt e: “Bu mhath leam taing a thoirt dhan chloinn agus dhan luchd-obrach air fad airson an fhàilte bhlàth a fhuair mi nuair a thadhail mi air an sgoil-àraich aca. Tha àite-cluiche snog is blàth a-staigh ann an togalach na sgoil-àraich a tha an ìre mhath ùr, agus tha e soilleir bhon ghàire air aghaidhean na cloinne agus na dh’ innis iad dhomh, gu bheil e a’ còrdadh riutha a bhith ag ionnsachadh agus a’ cluiche an seo. Thug an t-sìde ghrianach cothrom dhuinn feasgar spòrsail a chur seachad a’ sgrùdadh a’ bhlàir a-muigh agus cha do chosg a’ chlann ùine sam bith ann a bhith ag ullachadh airson seòladh air a’ bhàta frèam-sreapa fiodha aca. Bha e cho tlachdmhor a bhith a’ faicinn clann cho toilichte agus an sgoil-àraich a’ còrdadh riutha cho mòr, agus iad a’ faighinn cothrom a bhith càirdeil agus a’  faireachdainn sàbhailte is cofhurtail fhad ’s a bha iad cuideachd a’ conaltradh gu h-èifeachdach mun tlachd a tha iad a’ faighinn bho bhith ag ionnsachadh. Gu cinnteach, ghlac an aithisg sgrùdaidh deagh àrainneachd na sgoil-àraich agus an deagh dhàimh a bha aig a’ chloinn leis an luchd-obrach a bha ag obair san t-suidheachadh. Bu mhath leam a ràdh gu bheil sinn fìor thoilichte leis a h-uile duine a bha an sàs.”

‘Very good’ inspection report at Skye nursery

The nursery at Bun-Sgoil Shlèite (Sleat Primary) has received a high grade and positive report following their most recent inspection by the Care Inspectorate.

The report praised various qualities which contribute to a nurturing and inspiring environment including access to great indoor and outdoor facilities and nurturing support from a team of people who know the children very well.

‘Children received nurturing care and support from kind, caring and friendly staff. Staff valued children's voice and sensitively listened to their requests, which told us that their views and opinions mattered. Children were effectively supported through well timed and thoughtful interactions, which contributed to their sense of security and promoted their overall wellbeing.’

‘Children were offered rich, stimulating and interesting experiences which inspired them to be curious and encouraged them to be creative, problem solve and use their imagination. Play and learning opportunities impacted positively on children's development, health, wellbeing and happiness. For the majority of the time, children benefitted from uninterrupted play, allowing them to become absorbed in their play and have fun. This increased children's happiness and engagement.’

‘Staff had created a well thought out, inviting, fun and stimulating play space. It was homely, comfortable and furnished to a high standard. The layout of the playroom and the storage of resources supported quality play and learning experiences. Children were able to independently select resources of their choice and lead their own play.’

‘Children and families experienced a welcoming, warm and inclusive ethos that valued them as partners. A culture of continuous improvement was embraced by staff, which enabled children to have consistently positive experiences. This resulted in a very happy, safe and supportive environment for children and their families.’

Heather Loughlin, Acting Head Teacher at the school said: “Sgoil Àraich is exceptionally lucky to have the fantastic new building and wonderful opportunities for outdoor learning within our incredible outdoor areas. However, our biggest attribute here at Sgoil Àraich is our dedicated, nurturing, hardworking and knowledgeable early years team who go above and beyond every day to provide wonderful learning opportunities. I am delighted that the inspection report highlights how nurturing, skilful and committed the staff are, as the staff are the heart of our Sgoil Àraich. They know the children so well and the children thrive due to their care, encouragement, and expertise.”

Cllr John Finlayson, Chair of both the Council’s Education Committee and local Skye and Raasay Area Committee, paid a visit earlier this week to see the nursery in action.

He said: “I would like to thank all the children and staff for their warm welcome during a very enjoyable visit to their nursery. The relatively, new nursery building has a nice and warm indoor play space, and it is clear from the smiles on the children’s faces and what they told me, that they enjoy learning and playing here. The sunny weather lent itself to a fun afternoon exploring the great outdoors and the children wasted no time in getting ready to set sail on their wooden climbing frame boat. It was lovely, to see such happy children enjoying their time at nursery and being sociable and feeling safe and comfortable while also effectively communicating their enjoyment of learning. The inspection report certainly captured the positive environment of the nursery and the children’s great relationship with the staff working in the setting. I would like to say well done to everyone involved.”