Caithness Groups Among ICANN Awards

5th December 2012

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Caithness and Sutherland nurseries celebrate awards for children�s communication.

Staff from north Highland nurseries and playgroups have recently received awards for their organisations from I CAN the Early Talk Scheme run by the national charity for children with speech and language difficulties.

This rigorous scheme accredits nurseries that have achieved 40 standards designed to show the centres skills in creating the right environments for children's language and communication skills to flourish.

At South Wick School on Wednesday 28 November five Caithness nurseries / playgroups were presented with I CAN CEYAC Enhanced certificates by Highland Councillor Gail Ross for Wick Ward. Receiving their awards were: Norlin playgroup (based at North Primary School, Wick), Dunbeath nursery, Mount Pleasant Nursery, Thrumster Nursery and Lybster Nursery.

In addition, previous award winners Croileagan Nursery (Thurso), Helmsdale Nursery were presented with a Health Check certificate for maintaining enhanced accreditation status for a further year.

CEYAC (Caithness Early Years Autism Centre) Wick received their Enhanced level award, recognising the specialist work they do with children with communication difficulties. They are the first centre in Caithness to achieve this level of accreditation.

Councillor Ross said: �I am delighted to see the continuing good work being achieved by north playgroups and nurseries along with I CAN and The Highland Council. Good communication if key to the happiness to security of our young people. Well done to everyone for all their achievements.�

On Friday 30 November, at the Ankerville Nursery in Alness, Supportive level awards were presented to Brora, Central, Lairg and Bonar Bridge Nurseries.

Rogart and Obsdale Nurseries, received their first I CAN health check award. Second Health Check Enhanced awards were also presented to Ankerville-Tain; Ankerville Baby Unit Tain; Ankerville Nursery Alness.

Highland Councillor Martin Rattray for Cromarty Firth Ward presented the prizes. He said: �It is vital that we give our youngest members of society a head start in life. Ensuring that their communication skills are the best they can be is one way we can help our young people equip themselves for the future. It�s great to see such high standards being achieved among our nurseries and playgroups.�

I CAN is the children�s communication charity. I CAN�s mission is to ensure that no child who struggles to communicate is left out or left behind. Their vision is a world where all children and young people who struggle to communicate receive the help they need so that they can have a happy childhood, make progress at school and thrive as adults. For further information visit the I CAN website at: www.ican.org.uk/