Catrine Early Childhood Centre becomes first ECC in Scotland to earn Digital Schools Award | East Ayrshire Council News

Catrine Early Childhood Centre has secured a first in Scotland, by earning their Digital Schools Award for Early Years.

The Digital Schools Award is a national award scheme designed to promote, recognise and encourage a whole centre approach to the use of digital technology. Digital Schools Award Scotland presented the ECC with their award, praising the exceptional and sector-leading work, driven forward by Depute Manager Alana Speirs, STEM Champion Sherrie Devlin and Head Teacher Judith Govans.

Councillor Elaine Cowan, Spokesperson for Education and Children and Young People, was joined at Catrine ECC by Councillors Douglas Reid, Maureen McKay, Linda Holland, Alyson Simmons, Claire Leitch and William Lennox, Chief Executive Eddie Fraser and Chief Education Officer and Head of Education, Linda McAulay-Griffiths to learn more about their Early Years Digital Schools journey.

Sherrie gave a fascinating presentation and held a question and answer session. She spoke of the importance of promoting STEM throughout the ECC, supporting staff to use new technologies and about the way the children have embraced technology, increasing confidence and independence. A really interesting development was the use of QR Codes around the ECC. The staff create the QR Codes, then the children can use their chrome books or i-Pads to learn independently about topics that interest them, for example they are learning more about dinosaurs at the moment.

Councillor Cowan said: “I found the visit to Catrine Early Childhood Centre fascinating. We learned so much about the role of technology and what can be achieved within our ECCs with knowledge and passion. I was very pleased to hear that the parents and carers have been very supportive of the developments and that they particularly enjoy the online Learning Journals.

“I was so impressed by Sherrie and Alana’s presentation but that was nothing to actually joining the children for play and learning. I played shops, did some colouring in and some very enthusiastic children taught me how to make a short film, using a green screen background. It was incredible, their confidence and skill actually took me aback. I can’t congratulate Head Teacher Judith Govans and her whole team enough. The ECC is such a positive learning environment, as was highlighted by their recent inspection by the Care Inspectorate, where they scored ‘very good’ across all four categories; the children are happy, confident and officially the best in Scotland!”

Head Teacher Judith Govans said: “I am incredibly proud of the whole team at Catrine Early Childhood Centre and particularly Alana Speirs, our Depute Manager, and Sherrie Devlin, our STEM Champion – together they have worked so hard to demonstrate our Early Years Digital journey and earn our award.

“They have changed perceptions of technology for our staff and parents and carers, and have led the way in Scotland in this curricular area. Thanks to their effort, Digital Schools Award Scotland will now be developing a framework specifically for Early Childhood Centres. Moving forward, we are committed to continuing our Early Years Digital Schools journey and finding new ways to challenge and create positive learning opportunities for our children, for example the children have already started learning how to code. We are also committed to supporting colleagues who wish to work towards their own Early Years Digital Award.”