Equipment and Resources
DVD resource aids practitioners in Gaelic settings
Gaelic-speaking early years practitioners are being helped to make the most of Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence with a new DVD.
Children learn Gaelic in 64 early years settings in Scotland
The DVD, produced by Learning and Teaching Scotland, will be sent to all pre-school and primary settings across Scotland where Gaelic is taught, reaching more than 2,000 children. There are 64 Gaelic-medium early years settings in Scotland and Gaelic is taught in more than 100 primary schools.
The resource shows practical examples and makes suggestions for Gaelic active and play-based learning over the curriculum.
In the section on Language, Learning and Development, children are seen learning Gaelic in a range of activities, engaging with the wider Gaelic community and using ICT. Examples are shown of good practice in five selected settings across Scotland. Other sections focus on how children acquire language and how they can become bilingual.
Early years team leader for Learning and Teaching Scotland, Jean Carwood-Edwards, said, 'The Curriculum for Excellence is about meaningful real-life learning and we try to demonstrate this in the DVD.
'In one clip, children go to a Gaelic shop and ask for what they want in Gaelic. The scene is filmed on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, where Gaelic is widely spoken. Many Gaelic-medium settings are based in places where Gaelic is not spoken.'
Gaelic teacher Clare-Anne MacNeil from Lyoncross Nursery School in Glasgow said a practical DVD with examples would be beneficial to staff development.
'Sharing ideas and seeing how other nurseries teach Gaelic would be very helpful, as we don't get a chance to meet with other Gaelic teachers. There aren't any other Gaelic settings in the area so we can feel quite stranded,' said Ms MacNeil.
