Penilee Nursery pupils have set up the world’s first nursery school radio station.

The pupils officially launched the station, called ‘Penilee Patter @ World Wide Weans’, at the end of November. As well as being a world first, the station is the first of its kind in any Glasgow school.

Using £1000 worth of new equipment, paid for by Glasgow City Council’s Enterprise and Employability department, the pupils record their items on an mp3 player. The teachers then edit the material before posting the mp3 on the website.

The children have already posted five different items on the station at www.radiowaves.co.uk, including the pupils re-telling a favourite story and singing a song. The nursery aims to post a new radio item on the website every month.

Penilee Nursery pupil Melissa Harvey (4) said, ‘I like hearing my voice on the radio.’

Head Teacher Jeanette Marshall, who picked up on the idea at an education conference at the SECC, told the LOCAL NEWS, ‘It’s improving the kids’ self-confidence and self-esteem, and their ability to communicate and helps to improve their language and listening skills. We really appreciate the funding, which would have taken us a long time to raise on our own. I can see the project having great potential.’

The pupils are also using the internet’s global nature to help them learn foreign languages. Schools in Finland, Germany, France, and the USA have also been using the website, and the children have been learning to sing songs in French.

The nursery’s Child Development Officer Morag McKenzie, who attended a one-day training course on the new equipment with Jeanette, added, ‘The kids have really enjoyed interviewing each other and holding the microphone makes them feel important!’

Bailie Margaret McCafferty, Executive member for Education Services and Battlefield City Councillor, said, To be the world’s first nursery to have its own online radio station is a wonderful achievement for Penilee. This provides a fantastic opportunity for youngsters to communicate with their contemporaries around the world. At the same time, the kids are picking up new skills and are already comfortable with the technology. It’s a great example of the sort of thing which is going on in Glasgow, and I congratulate everyone at Penilee Nursery.’

Penilee Nursery is also seeking £3000 of funding to buy more technology and make a free DVD of each child’s work to be distributed to parents.