AT Mulberry Bush Kindergarten in the Campsie Fells the children and staff are learning all the time. Founder Mairi Clark places a big emphasis on active learning for the youngsters from the baby unit onwards and with the help of Forth Valley Enterprise she embarked on a major programme of skills development for the adults who run the Killearn kindergarten.
The kindergarten, which was founded in 1993 and has an annual turnover of #177,000, employs an infant teacher/depute manager, a teacher, eight nurses and four assistants.
Mairi's involvement with a programme of skills development has been through STEP, Stirling Enterprise Park, which is funded by Forth Valley Enterprise.
She says: ''It was in the early days, when morale was low, I was just passing by - I literally walked in off the street and said I had some ideas. Next thing I knew, I had enrolled in a five-day enterprise course.''
She has since taken another six business skills modules and all staff have been involved with STEP and other training providers. One nursery nurse has begun a national vocational qualification in child care and education and a course with residential workshops in London which will lead to a Montessori teaching diploma.
Meanwhile, the depute principal has completed a management module and is receiving formal assessor training. This will be followed by a skills development programme for the nursery assistants which is being organised by FVE.
Mairi said: ''Whether it's children or staff, real learning is a slow-release process. If you do it well, it may take a long time in coming out, but when it does the benefits are there forever.''
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