ONE of the Garnock Valley’s Early Years Centres has been shortlisted for a national award to recognise all their hard work.

ONE of the Garnock Valley’s Early Years Centres has been shortlisted for a national award to recognise all their hard work.

The nursery class in St Bridget’s Primary School has been nominated as one of the top three learning centres in the whole of Scotland for a Literacy in Education Award.

The awards recognise schools and centres that have developed a vibrant, and progressive culture of continuous innovation.

And they have fine-tuned a unique approach to literacy through the Scots language which is having repercussions in the wider education community.

<img style="width: 500px; height:334.7750865051903px;" src="/media/1019/ah2015401p01_stb1_v05.jpg?width=500&height=334.7750865051903" alt="undefined" rel="52543" /> A school spokesperson said: “We feel that we are enhancing children’s literacy skills by offering a rich and dynamic environment that values each child’s efforts with positive feedback from self, staff and peers, which encourage confidence, enthusiasm and motivation.

“Our children are engaged and stimulated as they learn about literacy in a variety of contexts that are linked across the learning environment, reflecting their individual learning needs and connecting with their life, culture and identity.

“We promote partnership with parents and other agencies and encourage independence and collaboration with the children. Overall we offer a welcoming, caring and nurturing environment that ensures all children’s rights are respected.

“Together, the staff and children have developed an exceptional Scottish context across all learning areas that enhances skills in communication, reading, writing and expression, enabling the children to express their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through their work and play.” Judges will now come together at St Bridget’s to gather more evidence to make a final decision on the winner.

They will then attend the award ceremony on June 10 at the Thistle Hotel, Glasgow, to find out the overall winners.

The class, which is led by Mrs Taggart, offers a unique approach to teaching in the formative years of a child’s education.

The spokesperson added: “We offer a good balance of child initiated and directed activities. We consult with the children, plan for change and build on what each individual child already knows. This enhances the topic and allows us to review activities and plan progress.

“Letting the children drive their own learning by responding to their ideas, requests and act on feedback from the children and home. This has improved relationships with parents/carers and the links between nursery and home.

“This has resulted in our children being confident in their achievements and has given them the ambition to progress by significantly expanding their knowledge of Scotland and Scottish culture.”