Kinder Croft CIC

Kinder Croft CIC is an outdoor nursery, with play based child-led learning at it's heart, set in amongst the trees of Leckmelm Forest, Ullapool.

[Play Scotland @PlayScotland]

Evidence report on COVID19 & children’s play shows that benefits of children playing outside outweigh risks & calls for evidence based decisions. The report, prepared at the request of the Play Safety Forum is here https://t.co/hMpIJbcLh6 @MareeToddMSP @ClydesdAileen @JohnSwinney

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

@ELCScotGov @MareeToddMSP @JohnSwinney @CareInspect @InspiringSland @CALAchildcare @earlyyearsscot @EducationScot @CaFTeam @NdnaScotland @SSSCnews Agree with @loveearthtime and @muckybootsed We work with ratios of 1:6 and 12 in a group, which is ideal for our outdoor setting. Working with these new guidelines will not be viable for us.

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

I personally welled up a bit when our manager Stephanie mentioned the kids having made it through the winter and how they are now missing spring, the first one since opening. #outdoorplay #forestnursery #missingthekids

[Lochbroom Radio @LBroomRadio]

Fri 1 May: @Wo6323 talks to Stephanie Martin of @KinderCroftCIC

https://t.co/4zGnW5mkS6
8/

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

The mince pies are out of the oven, the mulled apple juice is prepped and the chestnuts are ready for the campfire. Come and join us tomorrow to celebrate the end of the term and find out all about what’s been happening at Kinder Croft this year and our plans for the year ahead.

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

Thanks to everyone who braved the elements to come to our very first Kinder Croft Mhor session for adults today! Some experimenting with tree species lead to some lovely results and wee gift bundles for some lucky people this Christmas!

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

At last, something for the grown ups! By popular demand we are doing a wee experiment and will be running a few informal taster sessions for adults over the winter. The first ones are covering charcoal making. #artistscharcoal #barbecue #ullapool #woodlandcroft

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

Watching the sun slowly rise from home base before planning an adventure through the woods up to a vantage point to see the views up and down Lochbroom. #kindercroftlife #forestnursery #outdoorlearning #canonzoom

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

Now the leaves have fallen and the days are colder story time called for some new kit to keep everyone cosy. This is how we do story time now! The kids getting cosy in their new sleeping bags kindly supplied by North West Outdoors at a great price 🙂 #thankyou #kindercroftlife

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

@CameronSprague2 That would be fantastic! We’re very keen to learn from other outdoor settings and learn how we can do things better. Give us a shout when you’re next passing!

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

Loving the new Stramash yurt! A cosy space under canvas. We’re looking into yurts to develop our own outdoor nursery facilities.

[Cameron Sprague @CameronSprague2]

Well I think we can almost fully claim the job is done. Still waiting for materials to arrive so we can properly install lighting, but the fairy lights are nice! My personal @stramashoutdoor journey has been filled with lots of learning. After the fire I thought I was done 1/4

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

The news we’ve been waiting for! We can now offer funded funded places from January for all eligible 3-5 year olds. #fundingfollowsthechild #forestnursery #childledplay #ullapool

[The Shieling Project @shielingproject]

Way hay! We won ‘Best Environmental Social Enterprise’ at the Social Enterprise Scotland Awards. Our beautiful prize was made by Calvin McCleish from Space Artworks #socentawards19

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

A delightful clip from BBC Alba showing what the kids get up to at the nursery! #forestnursery #ullapool

[BBC Naidheachdan @bbcnaidheachdan]

Chaidh 'Croit Cloinne' do chloinn eadar 3 is 5 bliadhna a dh'aois a stèidheachadh faisg air Ulapul. Bidh an sgoil-àraich gan teagasg mun àrainneachd. Thàinig seo gu buil mar thoradh air rannsachadh mu na buannachdan an lùib ùine air a' bhlàr a-muigh.

[Woodland Crofts @WoodlandCrofts]

We often describe woodland crofts as #familyforestry, but this is a whole new take on it!

Fantastic to see Merlin, one our 'champions', developing this enterprise on her woodland croft.

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

It’s chilly at our #outdoornursery in the far North West Highlands today but #thanks to #funding from @UllapoolHarbour Trust our kids are kitted out in snug waterproofs from #muddypuddles! #worldoutdoorclassroomday #ullapool #thankyou

[Kinder Croft CIC @KinderCroftCIC]

Thank-you @Firstport! Your #startit funding allowed us to open our doors a couple of months ago and now we have more children enrolled than we had ever anticipated! #forestnursery #ullapool #thankyou

[Firstport for Social Entrepreneurs @Firstport]

If you had £5,000 what #socent would you develop? Have an idea? Get in touch and see if you should apply for out #startit funding! All details : https://t.co/Eytk6kGcoW

[Firstport for Social Entrepreneurs @Firstport]

Always great to see our #awardees being celebrated in the news! #socent Congratulations @KinderCroftCIC https://t.co/F5rtH57ayC

[Thrive_Outdoors @Thrive_Outdoors]

Did you know there are now 32 #OutdoorELC🌱settings operating in Scotland?🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 That's 77% increase in less than a year. The yellow pins are new #PVI and #SocialEnterprise sites at various stages from planning to pre-registration. #Outdoorlearning is growing!