A dedicated West Lothian nursery has been hailed as a hero for helping teach children to read.

The Scottish Book Trust has revealed the recipient of the 2021 Bookbug Hero Award as Kylie Watt, a nursery at Longridge Nursery.

Nominated by her colleagues, Kylie has been recognized for dedicating her professional career of more than 20 years to child and early childhood education.

The Bookbug Hero Award was announced during Bookbug Week, an annual celebration of Scotland’s national book giveaway program and Song and Rhyme sessions.

This year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Splash, and events include: a brilliant story and crafting session from Bookbug Week illustrator Helen Kellock and an online Bookbug Splish Splash session via Facebook.

Bookbug has been at the heart of the nursery’s inclusive and nurturing approach as they return from an extended lockdown due to Covid-19. Kylie’s work has helped the children reintegrate into the nursery environment and also helped parents feel involved and valued.

She gave reading sessions in small groups, using books to introduce and consolidate learning objectives such as exploration and recognition of rhyme, counting syllables in words, recognition of letters, sequences history and story telling.

The stories were also linked to health and well-being, supporting the children as they returned to nursery.

Kylie’s sessions explored emotions and feelings to allow children to express their own during a difficult transition time to settle into the new routine of Covid-19 nursery life.

Kylie was praised for using Bookbug as a point of engagement and constant contact for parents to bridge the gap between home and nursery.

She provided parents with information on how to properly use Bookbug bags and spend time reading and bonding with their children.

She also maintained online communication with parents during the pandemic. The nursery also uses a self-developed book borrowing program, which has become more important than ever with the closure of libraries during the pandemic.

Kylie provided resources for parents to be able to explore and solve many issues with their children that they might be concerned about or lack the knowledge or skills to discuss at an appropriate level. .

These resources supported the parent-child bond by dealing with events cooperatively and holistically in a way that a child can understand.

Kylie also encouraged a nursery bedtime reading initiative in addition to the Bookbug Explorer bag giveaway.

She is thrilled to win the award, adding, “I am very proud to have been announced as the winner of the Bookbug Hero Award.

“It was a nice surprise that my colleagues and parents from the Longridge Nursery Class offered and rewarded me for doing a job that I love.

“The award confirms that what I do to promote literacy development in our early childhood settings has a positive impact on families and children.

“The Bookbug Explorer bags have played an important role in promoting the love of books and the book bags have really helped us on our literacy journey as they give all children the opportunity to access resources. literary and literacy programs of high quality. “

The Bookbug Hero Award is organized in association with Walker Books and aims to honor an individual working with Bookbug who has used the program to make a real difference in the lives of young children, families and the communities they work with.

Kylie will receive a £ 500 picture book bundle from Walker Books.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “Congratulations to Kylie Watt for winning the Bookbug Hero Award 2021.

“During a particularly difficult year, Kylie went above and beyond to support the children of Longridge Nursery, their parents and colleagues.

“It’s wonderful to hear how Bookbug has been used to help with the transition to nursery and how a strong reading culture has supported the health and well-being of young people. Our thanks to Walker Books for sponsoring this important award. “

Parent Kayleigh Brand said, “Ms. Watt is a great member of the staff at the Longridge Nursery.

“She is loved both by the children she helps and educate, and by the parents.

“She always goes above and beyond the children’s expectations, making sure they have every opportunity to train in multiple activities, like the Bookbug bags and the large reading books they receive each week.

“She also makes sure parents are aware of what’s going on, even in these difficult times.

“Ms. Watt is an incredible asset to the nursery and deserves to be recognized for all her hard work!”

Miss Harte from Longridge Nursery added, “Kylie is fabulous. His commitment to ensuring that every child receives a pack of stories at the Bookbug event and every week with his lending library is second to none.

“When it’s Book Week Scotland, she always finds a new and inventive way to get involved
kids with stories and makes it exciting for the staff team to get involved.

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