March 21, 2007

March News Bulletin Published

The March News Bulletin from the Early Years and Childcare Service has been published.

To read the News Bulletin please click here Download Word Document (64.0KB)

Posted by Michael Hunt at 12:20 PM | Comments (0)

March 20, 2007

Chowdene Children's Centre

Chowdene Children centre is looking to secure an independent provider to open and manage a childcare service on the Children's Centre site.

This Children's Centre will be looking to secure childcare that caters for children 0-5 years in a Full Day Care provision. The opening time would need to be at least 8am-6pm

There is potential for 30 places to be registered in the full day care premises. The building has a laundry, 4 children's toilets, a staff toilet, a kitchen, a quiet room, a storeroom, a managers office and an outside play facility.

The provider should provide a quality provision that complies with the requirements of Ofsted. Children should be encouraged to be healthy, stay safe, make a positive contribution, achieve and enjoy what they do as laid out by the Every Child Matters framework. The provision should have structured activities to encourage the children to learn, play and relax. Appropriate snacks and drinks should be available for children.

To view the specification document please click here Download Word Document (27.0KB)

To view the application form please click here Download Word Document (78.0KB)

To view the conflict of interest guidance document please click here Download Word Document (20.0KB)

Posted by Michael Hunt at 11:59 AM | Comments (0)

Birtley Children's Centre

Birtley Children Centre is seeking to secure an independent provider to open and manage a childcare service on the Children Centre site.

The Children's Centre will provide services for families within the local area who have children under 5years of age

Birtley Children Centre is looking to secure a childcare provider to cater for children from 0 to 5 years of age in a full day-care provision. The provider will work in partnership with the Children Centre to improve outcomes for children and their families. Barley Mow School offers nursery education for 60 children aged from 3 to 5 years and partnership working with the school will be essential to provide a seamless package of care and education for those children for whom this is a requirement. The opening time will need to be flexible to meet the needs of families but at the least be from 8am to 6pm for 51 weeks of the year.

There is potential for 45 childcare places to be registered within the Children Centre premises.

Birtley Children Centre is to be situated on the current Barley Mow Primary School site. The location of which has excellent road links with the A1M and local road links with Gateshead, Newcastle, Chester-le-Street and Washington. The existing school premises consist of three separate buildings - the former Infants, Junior and the existing School Nursery. As from September 2007 the Infant and Junior School will amalgamate into one Primary School site, to be located within the current Junior School site. The School Nursery will remain as it is offering 60 sessional nursery education places.

The Day-care Nursery will be located adjacent to the School Nursery and share an extended outdoor learning environment. Refurbishment of the Infant School is to be undertaken in order to make best use of the space available. This will include the provision of suitable accommodation to meet the needs of the day-care facility e.g. sufficient floor play area, kitchen, laundry etc

To view the specification document please click here Download Word Document (30.0KB)

To view the application form please click here Download Word Document (72.0KB)

To view the conflict of interest guidance document please click here Download Word Document (22.0KB)

Posted by Michael Hunt at 11:48 AM | Comments (2)

March 16, 2007

Little Explorers

The aim of Little Explorers is to provide a safe and stimulating environment in which children can explore sound, colour and shape. Parents, carers and their children can socialise in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Most importantly it is a time for parents and children to have fun and a great experience.

Target Audience: Parents and carers with children aged 0-18 months
Age Range: 0-18 Months
Day / Time: Monday's 1:00-2:30pm term time only
Venue: Brandling Community Centre, Church Place, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 OHT
Telephone: (0191) 433 5646 for further information

Posted by Ross Glasgow at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)

March 15, 2007

Gateshead Play Strategy

Gateshead has it's first Play Strategy and has carried out the first 'audit' of Play in the borough. The results were very positive, lots of play happening and general satisfaction at the Parks, Leisure and Play already available.

For further information and to see the Play Strategy please click here Download file (PDF File 9.65MB)

Posted by Ross Glasgow at 4:09 PM | Comments (0)

Nappy Days

The aim of Nappy Days is to provide an environment where new parents can meet to gain support and advice from each other and health professionals, enabling them to grow into parenthood, gaining self-confidence and developing knowledge and responsiveness towards their baby's needs.

Come along and join the ups and downs of being a parent / carer. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and experience hands on advice from a range of practitioners on various topics from birth to contraception.

Our target audience are parents and carers with children aged 0 - walking.

Children Centre's objectives:
To provide a warm and relaxed atmosphere in which parents and carers can meet;
To foster a culture of peer support between parents;
To provide a contact and support from Health Professionals;
To highlight the parent's role as early educators for their children;
To provide parents and carers with a range of coping strategies for early parenthood;
To give health information and advice;
To help parents / carers to enjoy spending time with their children.

Drop-in sessions will take place on Wednesdays from 10.00am - 12noon during term time only at Felling Children's Centre, 58 High Street, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 9LT. Telephone (0191) 433 5646.

Posted by Ross Glasgow at 3:45 PM | Comments (0)

March 12, 2007

Question Time at the Early Years and Childcare Service

The service is holding another 'Question Time' in March.

Have you a question* you would like to ask the management of the Early Years and Childcare Service?

Would you like to know future Children's Centre plans?

Have you got a question to ask on service delivery?

Then why not post a question on this weblog and the management team at the Early Years and Childcare Service will be happy to answer it for you.

To post a question just click the comments button on this message.

The deadline for March's Question Time is Friday 30 March at 4.30pm. All questions will be answered and posted on this weblog by Wednesday 11 April.

All questions will be anonymous as with the first Question Time.

* please note that this forum should not be used to ask questions regarding salaries and personal issues. Please raise these with line managers in the first instance.

Posted by Michael Hunt at 12:59 PM | Comments (0)

March 8, 2007

Early Arts North East e-newsletter

Early Arts North East are looking for contributions for their third quarterly e-newsletter which will contain information on events, projects and activities for children from birth to 6 years old in the region.

The deadline for submissions is Monday 2 April 2007.

Early Arts North East is a regional agency for arts and foundation stage learning. They work in collaboration with Sightlines Initiative and are supported by the Arts Council.

They are looking for contributions for the third edition of the e-newsletter, which will be going out in April 2007. If you have any events, activities or examples of good practice you would like to share with other people working in under fives and foundation stage settings they would be delighted to hear from you.

If you would be interested in receiving or contributing to the newsletter, or being part of the database, please let them know by emailing rachel@sightlines-initiative.com.

Posted by Michael Hunt at 2:04 PM | Comments (0)

March 6, 2007

March News Bulletin Deadline

The deadline for copy for the March edition of the Early Years and Childcare Service News Bulletin is Wednesday 14 March 2007.

Suggestions for articles to be sent to Michael Hunt at michaelhunt@gateshead.gov.uk or alternatively post a comment on this Weblog.

Posted by Michael Hunt at 3:14 PM | Comments (0)