Bridge of weir childcare

Bridge of weir childcare A safe, fun loving & caring environment that offers rich, stimulating and educational experiences

Reliable and flexible childcare care tailored to your families needs

20/09/2025

All spaces are now full. Waiting list only

17/09/2025

The Benefits of Treasure Baskets for One-Year-Olds

Overview:
Treasure baskets are collections of everyday objects, carefully selected for sensory exploration. They allow children around one year old to engage in hands-on, independent learning while exploring textures, sounds, weights, and movement. Items commonly included are metal cups, beads, fabrics, keys, bells, mirrors, and other safe, non-chokable objects.

Key Benefits
1. Sensory and Cognitive Development

Treasure baskets support sensory-motor exploration, as children touch, shake, bang, and mouth objects to learn about texture, sound, and weight.

Encourage cause-and-effect learning, such as shaking a bell or crumpling a foil sheet.

Promote problem-solving skills and early mathematical understanding, e.g., filling and emptying containers.

2. Schemas

Encourage repeating patterns of play known as schemas:

Enveloping / Containment: Placing objects in cups or boxes.

Trajectory: Throwing, dropping, or shaking objects.

Transforming: Manipulating objects to see how they change (bending, crumpling, rolling).

Schemas are vital for developing early cognitive structures and understanding the world.

3. Links to Early Learning Theories

Piaget (Sensorimotor Stage): Treasure baskets allow children to explore through senses and actions, helping them learn about object permanence, cause and effect, and the physical properties of objects.

Vygotsky (Sociocultural Theory): Adults can scaffold learning by modelling actions, naming objects, and narrating play, supporting development within the child’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

4. Realising the Ambition (RTA) Links

Curiosity, inquiry, and creativity: Children actively investigate and experiment with objects.

Developing early thinking skills: Manipulating objects teaches problem-solving and understanding of outcomes.

Emotional security: Safe, stimulating environments support confidence and enjoyment in exploration.

Communication and interaction: Even pre-verbal children express themselves through gestures, vocalisations, and shared attention.

5. SHANARRI Links

Safe: Carefully risk-assessed objects allow safe exploration.

Healthy: Supports fine motor development, hand-eye coordination, and brain growth.

Achieving: Builds confidence in manipulating objects and understanding outcomes.

Nurtured: Provides a calm, responsive environment where children’s choices are valued.

Active: Encourages movement of hands, arms, and sometimes whole body.

Respected: Children follow their own interests at their own pace.

Responsible: Children learn early awareness of action and consequence.

Included: Supports engagement and participation for all children.

6. Scaffolding and Adult Support

Adults can model actions, show different ways to explore objects, and narrate play to extend vocabulary.

Offering choices within the basket supports autonomy, decision-making, and problem-solving.

Repeating and extending play builds mastery of skills and deeper understanding of cause and effect.

Summary

Treasure baskets provide rich, multi-sensory learning opportunities for one-year-olds. They support cognitive, sensory, social, and emotional development, while encouraging exploration, independence, and early problem-solving skills. When scaffolded with adult guidance and safe materials, treasure baskets are a simple but powerful tool in early years practice.

13/09/2025

All spaces full. A waiting list is now in operation. Message if you don't require immediate childcare.

Bridge of Weir Childcare | Established 1992

Nurturing Care for Growing Minds

Are you looking for a gentle, nurturing start for your little one in a calm,welcoming, homely setting?

What We Offer:
✅ A warm, home-from-home environment
✅ Only 3 preschool children at a time – truly individual care
✅ Child-led, holistic approach in line with Realising the Ambition
✅ Play-based learning: sensory play, stories, open-ended play, music & nature
✅ Daily outdoor play and local walks
✅ Strong focus on emotional security, curiosity, confidence and independence
✅ Over 30 years of experience in high-quality, responsive childcare

💬 “It’s like leaving my child with family – warm, loving, and full of fun learning.”

📍 Bridge of Weir
📅 Start Date - waiting list in operation
📩 DM to enquire or email Bofwchildcare@aol.com

13/09/2025

All spaces, both pre school and school age, are now full. Message to go on my waiting list if you don't require immediate childcare.

09/09/2025

One pre school space coming available mid October. Days availability are Tues wed and Thurs. Message for more info and to discuss your needs.

27/08/2025

Recent testimonial from parents
"I used Denise's services for both my children and would recommend to anyone. A loving,safe, nurturing place"

27/08/2025

Recent testimonial from parents

Denise provides a level of care and nurturing that helped our son thrive and enjoy his time in childcare. Aug 2025

13/08/2025

Learning Story – Playing Board Games

This week, our after school children have been enjoying board and card games such as Dobble, Blokus, and Uno. The children focused on following the rules, taking turns, and supporting each other throughout the games. They showed excitement spotting matches in Dobble, thinking strategically in Blokus, and carefully planning their cards in Uno.

Most importantly, the children were relaxing and having fun playing after school with their friends, enjoying time together, sharing ideas, and helping each other during the games.

Learning Benefits:

Problem-solving & strategy – Children think ahead, plan moves, and make decisions to achieve their goals.

Concentration & focus – Following rules, taking turns, and keeping track of the game strengthens attention skills.

Social skills & friendship – Playing together allows children to practise taking turns, cooperating, encouraging each other, and enjoying shared successes.

Numeracy & pattern recognition – Recognising colours, numbers, shapes, and patterns develops early maths skills.

Fun & enjoyment – Positive social interaction and shared engagement enhance wellbeing.

Relaxation & wellbeing – Games provide a calm and enjoyable way to unwind after a busy school day.

Links to Curriculum for Excellence

Numeracy & Mathematics

I can use strategies to solve problems and explore patterns, numbers, and shapes (MNU 1-03a / MTH 1-16a).

Health & Wellbeing

I can develop resilience and manage competing pressures (HWB 1-18a).

I am developing social skills through turn-taking, cooperation, and enjoying shared play (HWB 1-22a).

Literacy Across Learning

I can follow instructions and understand the rules of a game (LIT 1-07a).

Expressive Arts – Drama & Role Play

I can communicate ideas and feelings through interactive play (EXA 1-06a).

Links to SHANARRI Wellbeing Indicators

Achieving – Developing problem-solving, strategy, and concentration skills.

Respected – Children’s turns and contributions are valued.

Included – All children can take part, with games adapted to suit different abilities.

Responsible – Children follow rules, handle game pieces carefully, and take turns.

Healthy & Active – Enjoying play that is fun, stimulating, and socially positive.

Nurtured & Safe – Having enjoyable, supportive interactions with peers.

Parent Note:
Board and card games like Dobble, Blokus, and Uno are more than just fun—they help children build essential social, cognitive, and numeracy skills. The children particularly enjoyed relaxing and playing after school with their friends, supporting each other and enjoying shared challenges. At home, these games are a great way to spend time together, practise patience, and enjoy friendly, shared competition.

13/08/2025

Just one of the arts and craft activites available at Bridge of Weir Chilcare

Learning Story – Hama Bead Creations

This week the children have been enjoying making colourful designs with Hama beads. They have shown great concentration as they carefully placed each tiny bead onto the peg boards to create their own unique patterns and pictures. Some children worked from templates, while others used their imagination to come up with completely original ideas.

To help spark creativity, we also used the iPad to search for images and inspiration. Children enjoyed looking up designs, choosing their favourites, and sometimes adapting them to make them their own. This added a digital learning element, helping them practise safe and purposeful use of technology.

Hama bead play may look like a relaxing craft, but it is also full of important learning benefits:

Fine motor skills & hand–eye coordination – Picking up and positioning the tiny beads strengthens the small muscles in the hands and fingers, supporting handwriting and other skills.

Creativity & problem solving – Children choose colours, plan designs, and make decisions as they create, developing artistic expression and design thinking.

Patience & perseverance – Completing a design takes time and focus, teaching the value of persistence and working towards a goal.

Digital literacy – Using technology to research and find ideas encourages safe, responsible, and creative use of online resources.

Social skills – Children share ideas, swap colours, and admire each other’s work, practising communication and positive peer relationships.

Links to Curriculum for Excellence

Expressive Arts (Art & Design) – I can create and present work that shows developing skill and imagination (EXA 1-02a / EXA 2-02a).

Numeracy & Mathematics – I can explore patterns and symmetry in a range of contexts (MTH 1-13a / MTH 2-13a).

Technologies – I can use technology to explore and research ideas (TCH 1-01a / TCH 2-01a).

Health & Wellbeing – I am developing my fine motor control and coordination (HWB 1-15a).

Links to SHANARRI Wellbeing Indicators

Achieving – Developing new skills in both creative arts and technology.

Respected – Individual ideas and designs are valued and celebrated.

Included – All children can join in, with activities adapted to suit different needs.

Responsible – Taking care with small beads and using technology appropriately.

23/07/2025

1 Preschool Space Available – September 2025!
Bridge of Weir Childcare | Established 1992

Nurturing Care for Growing Minds

Are you looking for a gentle, nurturing start for your little one in a calm,welcoming, homely setting?

We have just ONE preschool space becoming available for a child aged 1+ this September 2025 – a rare opportunity to join our small, loving childcare setting in Bridge of Weir.

What We Offer:
✅ A warm, home-from-home environment
✅ Only 3 preschool children at a time – truly individual care
✅ Child-led, holistic approach in line with Realising the Ambition
✅ Play-based learning: sensory play, stories, open-ended play, music & nature
✅ Daily outdoor play and local walks
✅ Strong focus on emotional security, curiosity, confidence and independence
✅ Over 30 years of experience in high-quality, responsive childcare

💬 “It’s like leaving my child with family – warm, loving, and full of fun learning.”

📍 Bridge of Weir
📅 Start Date: September 2025
📩 DM to enquire or email Bofwchildcare@aol.com

03/06/2025

🎒 After School Care Now Available – Bridge of Weir Childcare 🎒

Looking for reliable, caring after school care in Bridge of Weir?

We offer a relaxed, homely environment where children can unwind after a busy school day.
📍 Pick-up available from Bridge of Weir Primary

🌈 Children can:
🎨 Get creative with arts and crafts
🎲 Play games and enjoy free play
🌿 Spend time outdoors
📝 Tackle homework with gentle support
🛋️ Or simply relax and recharge

Our after school care is designed to meet the needs of each child — whether they need calm time, creative fun, or active outdoor play.

📞 Message us here on Facebook or call to find out more and secure your child’s place.
Limited spaces available

Address

7 Kilallan Avenue
Bridge Of Weir
PA113PW

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm

Telephone

01505 614 323

Website

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Our Story

Reliable and flexible childcare care tailored to your families needs. We have been providing quality childcare for the past 24 years.

Ethos for our childminding family To provide a home from home setting; A safe, caring and calm rich learning environment with an invitation to play and curiosity approach to spark imagination, curiosity and joy. we do a very loose plan each week relating to seasons, celebrations, stories, health etc but like to be adaptable to suit all the changing needs and interests of the children. We offer a child centred approach for every individual child. We teach, nurture and care for every child as an individual tailoring every single day to suit their individual choices and ability not only to develop their learning but also their childhoods.

This is achieved by following the childrens interests with in the moment planning to support and develop their own ideas and enabling them to challenge their own abilities and skills. The children are architects of their own learning.

Alongside more traditional toys we enjoy creating little magical pockets of learning for the children alongside loose parts, authentic resources, and natural materials so the children are engaging all their senses.