Dance and exercise - Wake-up call

When James Brown's song 'I Feel Good' goes on to the CD player, children and staff know it is time to start the day with 'Shake n' Wake'.

The 15- to 20-minute dance and exercise session has been developed by St Mary's Nursery School in Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, to energise both children and staff every morning and enhance learning under Scotland's Curriculum for Excellence.

The session involves all the nursery's 60 children aged between three and five and has gone from strength to strength since 2008. The music and exercises are constantly changing, influenced by the children themselves.

The mix of music is eclectic, spanning current pop, children's music such as CBeebies' 'Lazy Town' and 'Scooby Doo', and the theme from 'The Pink Panther'. 'It is important to keep it fresh, so we let the children do most of the choosing,' says nursery practitioner Joanne Burns. 'Children come up with requests for some old songs that their grandparents have introduced them to. One little boy wanted Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and had a fantastic time playing guitar along to it.'

Ms Burns, who has a background in dance, developed the idea for the programme. She explains that it feeds into the nursery's holistic approach to learning. 'It improves children's co-ordination, their spatial awareness and mathematical development. They learn to respond to the instructions, such as look up, look down, move forwards, backwards and from side to side.

'They also learn about body awareness, from their heads down to their toes, and understand that their heart is beating fast. As the three-year-olds are mixed with the older children they have the opportunity to copy and learn from them, which they find very exciting.'

Every morning Ms Burns invites six children to share the stage with her and help her lead the session. 'Every day, different children who have been trying hard are chosen and they can talk into the microphone with me, which they love. It is a big boost to their confidence and self-esteem.'

Parents and carers are invited to join the morning sessions at any time. 'We also have a themed Shake n' Wake at the end of each month,' says Ms Burns. 'We recently had a "tartan" day for the poet Robert Burns and a "pink" day at the end of February encouraging everyone from parents and carers to grandparents, aunties and uncles to suggest music and help us promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle.'

She adds, 'We have been delighted how the programme has provided a focus for bringing children, staff and families together to enhance learning and wellbeing.'