Meet Mhairi!

Working alongside children brings so much happiness and joy.

Currently she is balancing that role with her new one as a lead at Musselburgh area Children’s Hub, providing learning and childcare for keyworkers’ children.

The children enjoy a combination of keep fit, games, arts and crafts, and outdoor play with access to the extensive school grounds a particular favourite for children who live in flats. Developing a safe, nurturing and consistent environment for children is key, as Mhairi explains: “The only focus is on children’s wellbeing. The learning experience that children receive in the Hub is very child-led and play-based. They are perhaps learning things they wouldn’t in a school environment.”

Mhairi works closely with Colette Bonnar from Pinkie St Peter’s Primary School, taking it in turns to lead the Hub on a weekly basis. While she is away from her own school, she keeps in touch with her team and families remotely. “We work best as a team so use Google Meet and supporting applications to have meetings and plan how to support our children and families remotely. We’re constantly seeking feedback from our families and our Home Link Champion keeps in touch by phone. The team have worked hard to get to grips with the technology and this week our children will have the opportunity to meet their teachers in a virtual space. We are so excited about this as we miss our families very much.”

In a short space of time the way that education is delivered has been transformed. Mhairi feels that there have been a lot of positives in uncovering the untapped potential for online working and learning, with children often leading the way.

Despite the challenges of Covid-19, Mhairi says that nurturing new and existing relationships has sustained her and her team. “The whole experience has taught me how much I love my job,” she says. “It’s a privilege to work with children and families. Working alongside children brings so much happiness and joy.”