Just across the road from the main nursery building is our half acre wooded and private outdoor space that is affectionately known as The Wild Place. 

Although all classrooms can access the environment, it is the preschool room who spend regular time in the space and share Wild Wednesdays each week; a whole day based in the outdoor space, exploring the environment, sharing activities and learning as well as having lunch and snacks around the campfire. 

Pursuits such as tree climbing, den building, plant identification, insect hunting and rope swinging are standard alongside more planned and focussed activities led by the staff. Woodwork and gardening is often carried out and as such The Wild Place provides an invaluable space for the children to master skills such as balance, coordination, teamwork, perseverance, self regulation and risk assessment as well as a love for the outdoors and all the fun and wonder that it holds. 

Realising the Ambition: Being Me at Sunshine Nursery

At Sunshine Nursery, we are guided by the national early years practice guidance Realising the Ambition: Being Me, introduced by Education Scotland in 2020. This refreshed framework supports high-quality early learning and childcare across Scotland by presenting current research and evidence on the characteristics of child development.

The document explores the vital interactions, rich experiences, and enabling environments that are essential for babies and young children to thrive — from their earliest days through to the early years of primary school. It sets out a clear vision for nurturing, child-centred practice, emphasising the importance of relationships and responsive care.

By increasing expectations of quality and consistency, Realising the Ambition supports everyone working within the early years sector and beyond, ensuring children receive the best possible start in life.

Introduced in 2010, the Curriculum for Excellence supports the developmental needs of pre-school children through a strong emphasis on learning through quality play in a nurturing, stimulating environment.

At Sunshine Nursery, children engage with all eight curricular areas at the Early Level:

• Health and Wellbeing
• Language and Literacy
• Mathematics and Numeracy
• Expressive Arts
• Religious and Moral Education
• Science
• Social Studies
• Technology

These areas are fully embedded in our daily practice, with a focus on experiential, hands-on learning. Through this approach, we aim to support children in becoming:

• Successful Learners
• Confident Individuals
• Responsible Citizens
• Effective Contributors

Our goal is to create a rich and inclusive learning environment where every child can thrive, explore, and develop a lifelong love of learning.

Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) is the national approach to improving the wellbeing of children and young people. Sunshine Nursery is committed to this and it is embedded throughout or practice and policies.

The GIRFEC approach:

• Puts the best interests of the child at the heart of decision making
• Takes a holistic approach to the wellbeing of a child
• Works with children, young people and their families on ways to improve wellbeing
• Advocates preventative work and early intervention to support children, young people and their families
• Believes professionals must work together in the best interests of the child

• Safe
• Healthy
• Achieving
• Nurtured
• Active
• Respected
• Responsible
• Included

These eight factors are often referred to by their initial letters – SHANARRI.

They are wellbeing indicators which help make it easier for children and families and the staff at Sunshine Nursery to assess and discuss how a child is doing at a point in time and if there is a need for support. Each child is unique and there is no set level of wellbeing that children should achieve. Wellbeing is influenced by children’s individual experiences and changing needs as they grow. The principles of SHANARRI underpin the development and learning experiences of a child and staff use it to ensure that children thrive at Sunshine Nursery.