The end of term — and of the year — is always a time to reflect on recent experiences. December is generally a busy month, and as usual we’ve noticed how full the last few weeks have been — not only with activity, but with people, connection and shared experiences.

December at Cambusbarron Village Nursery is a time for excitement and joy, but also kindness and community.

Our Random Acts of Christmas Kindness have given children opportunities to think about others, and about giving rather than receiving. A trip to the MacRobert Theatre brought the excitement of a shared cultural experience — and a trip on a ginormous bus.

We also loved dancing with the ladies at Rock and Reel, sharing music and movement across generations.

Today we hosted our own intergenerational Christmas party — a lovely way to bring children, families and members of our wider community together.

The recent wet and windy weather has meant that many of our visits to the woods and time in the nursery garden have been spent jumping in mud and splashing in puddles, as well as enjoying familiar stories, songs and games.

Christmas is a season of joy and excitement, but winter also invites us to slow down, notice the shorter days and respect this season of darkness and rest. We expect many homes will be buzzing just now while children wait excitedly for Santa to visit, but we hope everyone manages to spend some special time together and mark the season in a way that feels right for them.

Nursery closes tomorrow at 12 noon. Thank you to our children, families and community for another term of warmth, trust and connection. We wish everyone a peaceful Christmas and look forward to returning in the New Year.

We’ve been well and truly getting into the Christmas spirit this week (not too many more sleeps now!).
On Wednesday we joined the lovely ladies at Rock & Reel for some festive dancing, and today we had a brilliant trip to the Macrobert Arts Centre to see The Chilliest Penguin.
Lots of excited faces and Christmas cheer all round! 🎄🐧✨

We are so grateful to Tricia at Rock & Reel, Hunter’s Coaches, the Macrobert Arts Centre, and to Christmas in Cambusbarron for helping make this such a special time for our wee people. 💕

Last Wednesday brought the kind of rain that soaks through everything. Some children found it tough — not quite sure how to enjoy the feeling of being wet — while others were delighted, dancing in the mud and testing how much water would pour off the tarp when they tugged it! Staff offered plenty of hugs and encouragement to support those who were more hesitant to join in.

As it was Bonfire Night, we had planned to have a mini bonfire, but there was just too much rain so we decided to postpone. Some children, however, created their own “fireworks” – cutting pieces of wool, tying them to sticks, and swirling them through the air (great for building those strong shoulder and arm muscles needed for early writing). There were no real sparks flying, but plenty of energy, imagination and determination sparkling through the rain.

The next day I joined colleagues from across Scotland at a Thrive Outdoors knowledge-sharing event in Stirling, looking at inclusion in outdoor play and learning. It was a good day for conversation, reflection and reconnecting with familiar faces.

One discussion stood out to me. When we talked about what makes outdoor spaces inclusive, our table kept coming back to the same point – that inclusion starts with relationships, not resources. When children are surrounded by adults who notice, listen and adapt, almost any space can become one where everyone feels they can belong.

That summed up what we’d seen the day before. What looked like a very wet morning was really a reminder of how differently children experience the same conditions, and how important it is to take our time and meet each child where they are.

That’s the essence of slow pedagogy – giving learning and confidence time to grow without rush or pressure, and recognising that every child’s journey is unique. What feels exciting for one might feel uncertain for another, and that’s okay. Slowing down allows us to notice those differences and create the time and space for every child to join in, in the way that works for them.

Next time it rains, head outside for a few minutes together. Watch how the water moves across different surfaces, listen to the sounds it makes, or see what patterns or reflections can be seen in puddles.

This week we’ve been looking at maths in the natural world as we celebrated Wild Maths, this year’s theme for Maths Week Scotland.

So often, we think of “doing maths” as something tricky you have to do while sitting at a table with pencil and paper. But in reality, maths is fun! It is happening all the time all around us — in the pattern of nature, in the way children play, and in the choices they make moment to moment.

Outdoors, children encounter maths in many spontaneous ways.

A handful of conkers becomes a chance to share fairly.

A few pinecones might be used to pay for an ice cream

while a piece of moss can be offered as change.

Matching different-shaped leaves side by side sparks early ideas of “same” and “different” as well as giving opportunity to notice shapes and patterns.

A blade of long grass can serve as a measuring tape, while a line of sticks can represent a number sequence. Even the words children use in play — heavy, light, over, under, beside, on top — are all mathematical concepts, helping them make sense of position and space. 

This “play” might not seem as important as more formal “lessons,” but it gives children the freedom to notice which, in turn leads to appreciation and understanding. In play, children test ideas, repeat actions, and build understanding that lasts. They are engaged because the maths belongs to them. They grow in independence because they are free to explore. And they deepen relationships as they problem-solve together. All of this is learning, with no paper or pencil in sight.

There’s another dimension too: by working with what nature provides, children also see maths as part of caring for the world. They begin to connect number, measure, and pattern with the cycles of growth and change around them. That’s why this kind of learning matters so much for our wider focus on Climate Action.

To value our resources and understand our impact, we first have to notice what nature is showing us.

Wild Maths reminds us that learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms. It flourishes in the woods, the garden, and the seasons — and our role is to make space for children to discover it.

Next time you and your child go for a next walk, see what maths you can spot together. Count the steps you take, compare the size of leaves in your hands, or notice which stick is longest. Such simple activities show how maths is woven into everyday life outdoors.

For more inspiration, Maths Week Scotland has a lovely Nature Walk activity full of simple ideas to try.