The Local Playschool: A Kirriemuir Staple for 30 Years

Sunshine Playschool is a registered charity and has been a beloved part of the Kirriemuir community for nearly three decades. Over the years, it has provided generations of local families with their first experiences of play and learning. Today, parents dropping off their children may have once attended the playschool themselves, passing down the tradition to the next generation.

The Financial Struggles: Impact of the Cost-of-Living Crisis

Like many small charity groups, the playschool has faced increased financial pressures due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Rising expenses such as hall rents, utilities, staff wages, and the cost of everyday resources have placed a significant strain on our budget. These challenges make it more difficult to maintain the same level of service while ensuring financial sustainability.

Looking to the Future: A Vision for Growth and Sustainability

Despite these challenges, the playschool is committed to continuing its valuable role in the community. Our goal is to build a thriving, resilient, and responsible business that benefits both the children we serve and the broader Kirriemuir area. We are focused on reducing our environmental impact and maximizing our contribution to society while working toward a financially stable future.

Introducing the Kirrie Kids Community Cookbook

As part of our vision for the future, we are excited to introduce the Kirrie Kids Community Cookbook. This project will bring together recipes from all generations, incorporating ideas for reducing food waste and utilising home-grown produce. Through shared food experiences, we aim to create an inclusive, intergenerational, and educational project that emphasises the vital connection between individual well-being, community resilience, and climate action.

The Importance of Outdoor Learning and Connection with Nature

Recent research by Children in Need shows a concerning shift in outdoor play: only 27% of children today spend time outside, compared to 71% in their grandparents' generation. We know that children's health, well-being, and development are significantly enhanced when they engage in valuable outdoor play and learning. At the playschool, we place a strong emphasis on outdoor education, helping children build positive relationships with nature and sustainable practices from an early age.

The Curriculum for Excellence and Pre Birth to Three is integrated into our outdoor activities, providing early years children with an enriched learning experience. A Nature Scot report from 2022 also highlights that many early years staff lack confidence in implementing outdoor learning. With proper training and support, however, these barriers can be overcome, allowing us to create a rich, nature-based educational environment.

How Your Support Can Make a Difference

With your support, the playschool can further develop our outdoor spaces, growing our own produce and providing children with a hands-on farm-to-fork experience. Funds will also support the continued professional development of staff, allowing them to implement new outdoor learning experiences for the children. Research indicates that nature-specific outdoor learning has measurable benefits in terms of socio-emotional development, academic progress, and overall well-being.

By supporting the playschool, you are helping us provide the youngest children with the opportunity to build a lifelong connection to nature, fostering sustainability practices that will benefit them throughout their childhoods and into adulthood.

Promoting Climate Action through Education

The playschool’s efforts to promote healthy, thriving communities directly contribute to climate action. Through initiatives like the Kirrie Kids Community Cookbook, we encourage sustainable practices such as reducing food waste and sourcing food locally. These projects not only foster intergenerational connections but also teach children the importance of environmental stewardship. By providing outdoor learning experiences, we are instilling a deep appreciation for nature and helping children understand their role in mitigating climate change.

How Will Funds Raised Help

*Staff Training- £2,700*       *Outdoor Equipment- £1,500*       *Adults & Childrens Outdoor Clothing & Sanitary Equipment- £1,800*        *Outdoor Learning Curriculum- £240*    *Gardening Tools- £300*            *Outdoor Storage- £400*        *Composting System- £100*     *Rainwater Harvesting System- £850*  *Food Preparation Equipment- £400*      *Artist Input for Child Led Cook Book Illustrations- £500*      *Specialist Publication/Printing Input- £1,200*