A ROTHESAY early years practitioner is celebrating a major achievement after her innovative work giving nursery children a voice was recognised at the Early Years Scotland Awards.
Donna Taylor, who grew up in Dunoon and works at Rothesay Primary PRE 5, has won the Celebration of Children’s Voices Award for the hugely successful Nursery News Network project.
The initiative sees the nursery’s young mini reporters create their own news programme, reporting on events and activities from across Rothesay Joint Campus and the wider local community.
For Donna, the award is particularly meaningful because it recognises not only the creativity and enthusiasm behind the project, but also the importance of early years education.
She said: “I’m incredibly proud to have received the award, not only because it recognises the work we do within Rothesay Primary PRE 5, but because it shines a light on the importance of early years education within our community.
“Working in early years is incredibly rewarding. Every day we have the opportunity to support children as they grow in confidence, develop new skills and begin their journey of learning.
“It’s lovely to see the children thrive, and being recognised for the work we do makes the award particularly special.”
The Nursery News Network has proved to be much more than simply producing a news programme.
The children have full ownership of the project, deciding what they want to include and report on, as well as choosing their own Joke of the Month, often linking it to something happening within the school or local community.
Donna said the project gives the children a fantastic opportunity to develop their confidence, creativity and communication skills while giving them a platform to share their ideas.
She said: “The project gives the children a fantastic opportunity to develop their confidence, creativity and communication skills, while giving them a voice and allowing them to celebrate the people, activities and events around them.”
The programme has also attracted some familiar faces.
BBC Scotland’s Anne McAlpine presented the very first episode, helping to launch the initiative in a special way.
Since then, the young reporters have welcomed the Hebridean Baker, Coinneach MacLeod, for an episode linked to the Bute Highland Games.
The latest special awards episode features Maureen Beattie.
And the children already have their sights set on their next high-profile guest.
Donna revealed that the young reporters would love to team up with STV weather presenter Sean Batty.
In a statement on social media, Rothesay Joint Campus described Donna’s success as an incredible achievement, praising her creativity, enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring the youngest children are heard, valued and placed at the heart of their nursery experience.
The school also paid tribute to all the children involved in Nursery News Network, saying their confidence, ideas, enthusiasm and personalities are what make the project so special.
For Donna, the award is also an important recognition of the vital role played by early years professionals.
She explained: “This award is so important for nursery education because the early years are such a significant stage in a child’s development.
“The work that early years professionals do can have a lasting impact, and it’s wonderful to have that valued and celebrated.”
With Nursery News Network continuing to develop, Rothesay’s youngest reporters look set to have plenty more stories to tell.
