Renfrewshire nursery waves off ambitious pre-schoolers with dreams of being footballers, hairdressers and future Santa Claus

Puddle Lane Nursery in Hillington marked a significant milestone as it bid farewell to its pre-school children, who are now preparing to begin their next exciting chapter at primary school.

The children took part in a celebratory graduation ceremony to mark the end of their early years’ education.

Each child was celebrated in a graduation ceremony highlighting their growth throughout their time at the nursery. The celebration culminated with each of the children being presented with a certificate as they shared their ambitious dreams of their future careers.

Among the ambitious youngsters are Zak who has set his sights high with the ultimate goal of becoming Santa Claus, Arlo hopes to one day become a professional footballer, while Cuillin dreams of adventures as a Jurassic Park hunter. Rory wants to be a teacher and Caben wants to work at the zoo. Roni aspires to follow in her mother’s footsteps by becoming a hairdresser in her mummy’s salon and Lachlan has his heart set on growing up to be big and strong.

The children took part in the graduation ceremony with a range of song performances including their own special rendition of ‘Mamma Mia’ for the parents, ensuring there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

The bespoke version of the popular song went: “I’ve been at Puddle Lane since I don’t know when. So, for me and my friends, it has come to an end. Look at me now, look at what I’ve learned. I don’t know how, but I’m suddenly going to school. I know it will be so cool”

Lisa Drever, nursery manager at Puddle Lane said: “We are so proud of each and every one of our children as they take this exciting step towards primary school. Over their time with us, they’ve developed confidence, independence, kindness and a real love for learning.

“It’s been a joy to watch them grow, and we know they’ll carry these important skills with them as they continue onto their next education stepping stone.”

Puddle Lane Nursery in Hillington has laid a strong foundation for children as they prepare to begin primary school, equipping them with valuable skills, lasting friendships and strong social awareness.

The children graduating from nursery all received funding for their early years education through the Scottish Government’s funded childcare scheme.

Open to families across Renfrewshire, Glasgow, and the surrounding areas, Puddle Lane offers high quality early years placements. The nursery is part of the Kibble Group, a national charity dedicated to providing care and education for children and young people across Scotland. As a social enterprise, Puddle Lane reinvests all profits back into the nursery to support continuous improvement and growth.

Jim Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer, Kibble, said: “Young learners at Puddle Lane growing in confidence, curiosity and character was the reason for opening a children’s nursery. This graduation marks not just the end of nursery, but the beginning of incredible journeys. At Kibble, we’re proud to give children the best possible start in life, and we can’t wait to see what they go on to achieve.”

Puddle Lane is purpose-built with children’s development in mind, the nursery features modern indoor and outdoor spaces that promote free flowing, play based learning in a safe and stimulating environment.

One of the nursery’s standout features is its expansive outdoor area, including a thriving community garden. Here, children are encouraged to explore, play independently and discover the joy of growing their own fruits, vegetables, and plants while nurturing both their curiosity and their green fingers.

There are spaces available in the 0-1, 2-3 and 3–5 rooms ensuring children and parents can be assured Puddle Lane can provide a consistent, quality learning environment from birth to pre-school. Families living in Renfrewshire can benefit from funded hours for Puddle Lane.

For more information about Puddle Lane or to enrol your child, visit www.puddlelane.org.