\Strathaven

W3ST A speakers’ dinner to raise funds for Whiteshawgate 3G Sports Trust (W3ST) has been confirmed for March 3, 2017 at Strathaven Hotel. Former SFA chief executive Gordon Smith and comedian Joe Camay have both agreed to speak at the event. To book tickets – £450 for a table of 10 – donate prizes or find out more email stuart-hall@btconnect.com or visit the website. Community nursery Strathaven Community Nursery was praised for its nurturing and respectful environment following a recent inspection at the school. Education Scotland carried out a routine inspection – and highlighted a number of positives. This included children who are confident, motivated to learn and are enjoying their time at nursery; the good progress children are making in their learning and the respectful and nurturing ethos where kids are valued. The report went on to praise the positive relationships between staff and children that are contributing to children’s wellbeing; the effective use of visitors along with visits to the local community to enrich children’s learning experiences; staff who reflect on their own practice and are committed to improving outcomes for children. However, a number of recommendations for improvements were made. The nursery was told it should review and adapt the routine of the nursery session and the learning environment to ensure children have greater ownership of their learning through a play-based approach. They were also advised to continue to develop children’s individual profiles to ensure they are fully accessible to the youngsters themselves and enable them to reflect on their experiences and learning. The report added: “We are confident that the setting has the capacity to continue to improve and so we will make no more visits in connection with this inspection.”