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PICTURES: We’ve got high hopes! Youngsters from Dochgarroch Primary School nursery aim to walk twice the height of Mount Everest to improve their surroundings


By Ian Duncan

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When youngsters at a Highland nursery wanted to raise money to improve their surroundings they initially decided to walk the equivalent of the height of Ben Nevis.

However, they made such good progress they are hoping to trek the equivalent of twice the height of Mount Everest by the end of term.

The children, who are all between the ages of three and five years old and attend Dochgarroch Primary School nursery, all do laps of their school field before lunch for their daily exercise.

Emma Hill, who is an early years practitioner at the centre, said each lap measured a distance of 136m and 13 youngsters were taking part.

She said they were hoping to cover a distance of 17,698m by the end of term and added: "We thought about walking the height of Ben Nevis but we thought we could then walk the height of Everest. We are already half way so we doubled it."

They are hoping to raise £1000 and have already raised more than half their target and Mrs Hill said they were confident that they will cover the distance. She said: "They will do that no problem at all. They are loving it actually."

The cash will be used to improve their early years classroom, because they want to make their space inclusive, stimulating and a really happy place to be, as well as improving the outside area. Mrs Hill said: "Most of them keep going the whole time because they know it will buy stuff for the nursery.

"The early years are a massive milestone in a child's development and have a real impact on the rest of their lives. The environment is integral to ensuring all of our children settle happily, develop well, and are kept healthy and safe."

Improvements at the nursery will include redecorating and redesigning the space following the latest evidence for child development – the money will go towards new chairs and items for the room to encourage learning through play at all ages and stages in the ELC.

Possible ideas to redevelop the outside area include: creating areas for the children to explore; buying attractive and engaging fixed equipment; and purchasing resources to enable the children to learn through play.

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