Mum & Grandma to many! Head at Wester Coates Nursery School, where, whatever the weather we spend more time outdoors than in. Passionate believer in the power of play to support development & learning. Staunch upholder of Froebelian principles. MSc Froebelhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3m55qfxcezc27Being&Belonging Edinburgh's Froebel conference subsidised by Froebel Trust offered a thought-provoking inspiring day to 180 delegates. Keynotes magnificent. Thanks all presenters @lintonlass.bsky.social @rachna.bsky.social @froebeltrust.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social @sallycave.bsky.social08 Nov 2025 23:24 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3m55qfxcezc27https://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3m43pf26kyc27PLEASE sign the petition to promote interest in a kindergarten stage: early years care & education that is relevant & fit for the 21stC Please repost @falkirkfroebel.bsky.social @fiplayscotland.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social @morayhouse.bsky.social @roddi33.bsky.social parliament.scot https://parliament.scot/26 Oct 2025 10:35 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3m43pf26kyc27https://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3llhly3ezd222Spring has sprung! Buds outdoors &wound yarn buds on our seasons wall…spring cleaning our resources. Looking after our environment:life skills. @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @ruthswailes.bsky.social @danwuori.bsky.social @fiplayscotland.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social @sallycave.bsky.social28 Mar 2025 19:57 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3llhly3ezd222https://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3llcoot432k2pWester Coates had the privilege & pleasure of introducing MSc students to the joy & benefits of storytelling. Emergent reading & writing in context @morayhouse.bsky.social @ruthswailes.bsky.social @danwuori.bsky.social @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @sachapowell.bsky.social @suecowley.bsky.social26 Mar 2025 21:03 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3llcoot432k2phttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3ll5npqqci22aGuess where we visited last week! 1st hand experience led to expressing learning in different ways…and yes you ‘heard’ the boom of the one o’clock gun! @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @lintonlass.bsky.social @darrellwakelam.bsky.social @ruthswailes.bsky.social @creativestar.bsky.social24 Mar 2025 21:02 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3ll5npqqci22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3ljkwcdntt22iReplanting our apple tree involved digging a BIG hole, planting filling & treading down the soil & sweeping up. Understanding how nature works. Holistic learning #beingme @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @sachapowell.bsky.social @lintonlass.bsky.social @marcellatowler.bsky.social @roddi33.bsky.social04 Mar 2025 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3ljkwcdntt22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lj6qff3vjc2yWoodwork for a purpose…two 4 year olds using palm drills to make holes to create new outdoor pegs: concentration, enjoyment, sense of pride. Froebelian occupation 😀@intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @roddi33.bsky.social @lintonlass.bsky.social27 Feb 2025 20:32 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lj6qff3vjc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lgt7ltylgs2qCh should experience nature in all its aspects: form energy substance sound & colour. Froebel in Lilley 1967:148 @givetimescot.bsky.social @fiplayscotland.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social @sachapowell.bsky.social @sallycave.bsky.social @marcellatowler.bsky.social @morayhouse.bsky.social28 Jan 2025 19:42 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgt7ltylgs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lgql7mdf5k26Community spirit to t fore as families staff& children sorted our garden areas after t storm. Team work & sense of purpose. “Ch & adults shd go out tog & feel in their hearts t spirit & life of nature” Froebel @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @esteamelc.bsky.social @givetimescot.bsky.social27 Jan 2025 18:32 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgql7mdf5k26https://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lfuue7jlm22gLiteracy=listen talk reading (&markmaking). All enhanced by fun experiences today.Thks to Waterstones for making us welcome. Snack &play in park &2bus rides- awesome! @esteamelc.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @suecowley.bsky.social @michaelrosenyes.bsky.social16 Jan 2025 18:01 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfuue7jlm22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lfsiseaai22gThese delightfully decorated cakes were for sale! Card payment only. Play involved dexterity, imagination, collaboration, much talking &use of mathematical language. The sale was followed by a (real) campfire& a day in the sunshine (vitamin D!) @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @lintonlass.bsky.social15 Jan 2025 19:29 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfsiseaai22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lfq2u3k3j22mWhen Tesco don’t deliver your milk you problem solve and go TO Tesco instead! Ch risk assessed ‘take money, bag & phone! Use the green man crossing’. Independent &competent Real life experiences @suecowley.bsky.social @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @roddi33.bsky.social @fiplayscotland.bsky.social14 Jan 2025 20:14 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfq2u3k3j22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lfhi2g7aj22d1st wk back. Snow & ice did not restrict some ch- outdoor, meaningful mark-making. “T bus stop will move tomorrow”. Indoors - “the helicopter saw the magic window”. Time to play & imagine - the basis of learning. @sallycave.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social @givetimescot.bsky.social11 Jan 2025 10:16 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lfhi2g7aj22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lco2oy36vk2wOn the first week of advent we explored the Christmas story using puppets & a book made by previous WCNS cohorts. ‘Mary was my sister’ ‘I like the donkey & the church lights’. ‘the Booknook is like a stable’ Festivals Sustainability History @givetimescot.bsky.social @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social06 Dec 2024 20:50 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lco2oy36vk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lce3a5heyk2vHave a look at this wonderful wee film and see EY practice at its best. @playinpoppies.bsky.social@roddi33.bsky.social @sallycave.bsky.social02 Dec 2024 21:33 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lce3a5heyk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lc4dr7v5bs2jLived experiences! Thank you very much to pupils from George Heriot’s Sch who introduced piping and dancing to the WCNS children & joined them in a ceilidh for St Andrew’s Day. Note 2 ch who then made their own bagpipes. Sharing traditions. @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @fiplayscotland.bsky.social29 Nov 2024 19:44 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lc4dr7v5bs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lbx4dygeus2dLOVE how nature provides us with a ready curriculum. The sun dictated our science today:shadows which grew or shortened;animal shapes which spoke! Bare trees or evergreens. Singing Here we go Round the Holly Tree.Froebelian holistic learning @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social27 Nov 2024 17:48 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbx4dygeus2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lbuvnhwgjk2eThis made my day yesterday. A drawing by a 3yr old of a unicorn going to nursery to PLAY 🦄 @suecowley.bsky.social @sachapowell.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social @roddi33.bsky.social @jamesmcenaney.bsky.social @aaronearlyyears.bsky.social @ruthswailes.bsky.social @lintonlass.bsky.social26 Nov 2024 20:43 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbuvnhwgjk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lbded5sfxc2hThank you!19 Nov 2024 21:18 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbded5sfxc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lbamd3rffk22The land of ice & frost is where we experimented today. We discovered the sun melted the frost, the heat from our fingers could draw pictures & the pond was frozen. We filled containers with water to see what happens overnight. Holistic science. @roddi33.bsky.social @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social18 Nov 2024 19:03 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbamd3rffk22https://bsky.app/profile/alisonjhawkins.bsky.social/post/3lb7tgstsm222Perhaps not creative in a Froebelian sense but upcycling concentrating & dev fine motor skills to make a Pudsy Candle and raise £70. for Ch in Need. Learning to give. @intfroebelsociety.bsky.social @playinpoppies.bsky.social @givetimescot.bsky.social @roddi33.bsky.social @lintonlass.bsky.social18 Nov 2024 11:38 +0000at://did:plc:6v5kxzngdui4ojtpz6igrmdd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lb7tgstsm222