Preschool shows creative touch

A NORTHSIDE preschool was celebrating recently after winning a national award. 

Beverton Preschool in Donabate won the overall Inspired Practice of the Year award at the Early Childhood Ireland National Awards Night.

The preschool was recognised for its Inspired Practice submission, ‘A Creative Touch’, which describes the friendships that blossomed when Vikki, a local woman who is blind, came to read to the children.

After learning that Vikki’s braille machine could not translate pictures, the children decided to create a sensory picture book to capture the textures and feel of the illustrations in one of the books Vikki had read to them. They then presented this book to Vikki during one of her visits. ‘A Creative Touch’ had previously been selected as a monthly Inspired Practice winner in January. The Inspired Practice monthly awards were created by Early Childhood Ireland to capture the dedication of educators in providing quality learning and experiences for the children in their care.

Monthly Inspired Practice winners are each shortlisted for the National Awards Night when one overall winner is selected.

Teresa Heeney, chief executive of Early Childhood Ireland, congratulated the children, Vikki and all the staff  at Beverton Preschool on their “wonderful” success story.