C&YPS

Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Tristram Hunt [Lab] is for the debate over Academy type schools to move from their governance to what is actually taught in them. In a letter to the Guardian Newspaper, Tristram highlights his concerns over the teaching of Science in academies being significantly lower than in council controlled schools. Stoke-on-Trent escaped the government cuts in the BSF programme and as a result 5 academy type schools will be built across the city.

Central government has officially confirmed the end of intervention for children and young people’s services in Stoke-on-Trent. In a letter to the leader of the city council, Councillor Mohammed Pervez, under secretary of state for children and families, Tim Loughton MP, says: [quote]“There is clear commitment to and motivation for continual improvement in Stoke at officer level and I was also pleased to hear of the political support for the children’s services improvement agenda.”

Westfield Children’s Centre and Nursery School in Longton has transformed their existing outdoor play facilities into a new natural play area. The play space, designed and built by local environmental and regeneration charity Groundwork Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire is made of all naturally occurring materials and includes features such as play hills, tunnels, dens as well as state-of-the-art sensory equipment.

A Stoke-on-Trent children’s centre has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award, after a parent who uses the facilities put forward the original nomination. Crescent Children’s Centre in Meir has been selected for a place in the final of the 4Children National Children’s Star Awards, beating off competition from hundreds of other entrants. The centre reached the final after the original nomination came from a parent who uses the facilities

An afternoon of fun and frolics will take place this Friday June 11 at Treehouse Children’s Centre in Stoke-on-Trent. Families, service providers and community members in the Bentilee, Berryhill, Eaton Park, Moss Green and the Bambury Street areas are all invited to attend the event, which takes place from 1:00pm until 4:00pm, at the centre on Dawlish Drive in Bentilee. There will be indoor and outdoor games and entertainment from Charlie the Clown and Sam the Sure Start Bear throughout the afte

People who have an interest in the proposed location for the new Discovery Academy in Stoke-on-Trent are being asked for their views as part of a feasibility study being carried out on behalf of the city council. The proposed Academy is one of five brand new academies planned to be built in the city as part of the £250m Building Schools for the Future programme. The independent study will look at possible locations for the Discovery Academy and then advise on a preferred site.

The winners of a bookmark competition aiming to teach children and young people in the city about staying safe will be presented with their prizes tomorrow (Thursday March 18) at Fenton Manor Sports Centre. The competition, which was open to all schools in the city, challenged pupils to create a bookmark covering the theme of staying safe; one of the five Every Child Matters outcomes.

Young people from Moorland Park Youth Centre will be showing off the results of a recent project to highlight alcohol abuse next week. Walls at the community centre have been decorated with graffiti, painted by youngsters attending workshops, and will be unveiled next week, with the artists signing their names on their creation.

City Council’s Fostering Service have launched a campaign urging people in the city to “be the big difference” by supporting disabled children and their families needing a short break. Short Breaks are the support service requested by families of disabled children. They are regular opportunities for families to have a break from caring while the child enjoys spending time with a short break carer.

Organisations which look after young children across Stoke-on-Trent are being invited to take part in a city-wide event on March 17. Stoke Speaks Out Day is aimed at raising awareness of the help some younger children need with speech and language skills. Nurseries, schools, childminder groups and children’s centres are all invited to take part, and to run what’s described as a “communication activity” on the 17th, which could be anything from singing nursery rhymes to story telling.