A NURSERY in Port Glasgow is the first in Scotland to receive a prestigious award for looking after the social and emotional wellbeing of their children.

Staff at St John’s Nursery received training from Barnardo’s Scotland to implement the principles of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into every aspect of their pre-school life.

And as a result, the nursery is the first in Scotland, and one of the first in the UK, to be given an SEL Worldwide Model Pre-School Award from Barnardo’s.

Education and communities committee convener, councillor Jim Clocherty, said: “I would like to congratulate the whole staff team at St John’s Nursery for winning this award.

“Across Inverclyde, our early years staff work hard to make sure all children have the best start in life.

“Helping children and young people to know and understand their emotions is a key part of this.

“It’s testament to the staff team at St John’s that this has become an integral part of their nursery day.”

Staff received training in the PATHS Programme for Schools (UK Version) which uses play to support children from a young age to raise awareness of their feelings and helps them to develop self-regulation skills.

Age-appropriate activities with the pre-school children are designed to help children’s development in learning to regulate their emotions, boost self-esteem, increase their emotional awareness and teach them problem-solving skills, including within relationships and friendships, improving the mental health of nursery and primary school pupils. 

Depute head of the nursery, Donna Buirds, said: “We are delighted to achieve this award and to be recognised as an SEL Worldwide Model Pre School for the great work that’s been happening over the last two years in St John’s Nursery around social and emotional learning.

“Our staff have worked really hard to integrate the programme into our play environment and daily interactions with the children which has had a positive in our children’s social skills and their ability to recognise and manage their emotions.

“We have also had positive feedback from our families and parents.

“The PATHS Programme uses a range of age-appropriate play experiences, such as the use of puppets and stories, to encourage children to understand their emotions, how to give and receive compliments and teaches some problem-solving techniques.

“This has helped to increase our children’s confidence and self-esteem.”

The SEL Worldwide Model Pre-School Award is new this year and was given in recognition of the commitment staff at St John’s Nursery made to ensure the programme is delivered regularly as part of their day and is fully embedded into the setting.