Two SCMA childminders have won a Nancy Ovens Trust Scottish Play Award under the ‘Play at Home’ category, giving us another reason to #CheerforChildminding.
Pauline McInally from North Lanarkshire and Laraine Lambie from West Lothian were announced as Scottish Play Award winners, having been recognised for providing stimulating and innovative play experiences for their minded children.
As individual childminders, Pauline and Laraine entered the ‘Play at Home’ category to showcase examples of creative and innovative play that take place in a childminder’s setting every day, to meet the needs and benefit each child’s development and wellbeing.
Formally announced at the award ceremony in Edinburgh last week, both Pauline and Laraine are delighted with their achievement.
Pauline said: “I am honoured to receive this award for the care and dedication that I give to the children in my care. The parents who use my service and my minded children are over the moon with the award – I’d like to thank them for their support throughout the years.”
Laraine said: “I really enjoy my job, and it’s not very often we get recognition like this – so it was so great to see two childminders picking up an award. It feels great to be recognised for all the things that I do on a daily basis without even thinking.
"My minded children have a fantastic time growing strawberries and blueberries, and we have them as a snack along with our tomatoes and cucumbers we grow in the greenhouse. We've made soup from home-grown carrots, potatoes and onions too, and they were surprised that the vegetables didn't come in plastic bags.
"I’m also a Community Childminder and it’s always really interesting and lovely to work with so many different families. At my service we do a take part in a lot of outdoor play activities, whether it’s in my back garden or going down to the woods to build dens - we always have fun, and the benefits all add up.”
Also commended for ‘Play at Home’ was SCMA childminder Christine Mathieson from Aberdeenshire. Christine said: “Many childminders across Scotland - and myself included - are working extremely hard and putting in many hours behind the scenes, and I am delighted to receive this recognition.”
Being shortlisted for a Scottish Play Award is a great achievement and shows that childminders are raising the bar to make play an outstanding experience for children in their high quality home-based childcare setting.
Maggie Simpson, Chief Executive of SCMA added: “I am really chuffed to hear the result of the Nancy Ovens ‘Play at Home’ Scottish Play Award. I am especially delighted that the childminding sector is being recognised for their vital work.
“We know – more than ever now – the importance of play, and childminders understand first-hand how much quality learning children gain from playing with their peers and in small groups with their childminder.
“Making things, sharing with others, experimenting with different textures and exploring opportunities is exactly how children grow, learn and develop. From current research and these awards it is clear that childminders are perfectly placed to encourage the wellbeing and development of children of all ages.”
Read more about the
Scottish Play Awards