PEOPLE & PLACES
- Show your colours
Children from First Place Nursery in Radlett, Hertfordshire, made a tripto the local McNeil Art Gallery as part of their topic on colour andpattern. The owner of the gallery, Beverley McNeil, showed the childrenand encouraged them to look closely at the paintings and choose theirfavourite one.
- Olympic achievement
Leavesden Children's Centre in Watford held a mini Olympics morning tolaunch their group for toddlers and their fathers, called Men BehavingDadly. They were joined by Dale Bennett, a player from Watford footballclub, as they took part in a penalty shoot-out game, tackled an assaultcourse, played skittles and enjoyed arts and crafts. Outreach workerEmily Mann said, 'The morning was a great success and we are lookingforward to the next Men Behaving Dadly event.'
- Mind that toddle
A group of Sunderland childminders hosted a reading event and asponsored toddle to raise money for children's charity Barnardo's. Tenchildminders and their children walked from Sunderland Children's Centrein Washington to the Millennium Centre Library for storytime, and raisedover 400. Councillor Pat Smith, cabinet member for Children'sServices in Sunderland City Council, said, 'Childminders provide anexcellent way to help encourage a child's reading as they are able tofully support a child as they develop their language.'
- Outstanding prep
Millfield pre-preparatory school in Somerset has been rated outstandingin all five areas in its recent Ofsted inspection. The inspectorscommented on the safe and secure environment provided for the childrenand the high level of care. Headmaster Kevin Cheney said, 'I am sure itis comforting for people to know that we are able to give children afirst-class start to school life.'
TRAINING EVENTS
- First aid seminars
The BabySafe campaign has been launched for a second year by Tesco'sBaby and Toddler Club and the Royal Life Saving Society, in response toconcerns over a lack of first aid skills among childcarers. As part ofthe campaign, which is being supported by celebrity mother NatashaHamilton, a series of free two-hour seminars will be offered around thecountry from November to March, teaching childcarers and other adultsbasic first aid skills. To find out more and to book a place, visitwww.tesco.com/babyclub.
COMPETITIONS
- Poets wanted
A new performance poetry competition for schools is being hosted byScholastic Education's Literacy Time Plus, giving participants thechance to win a visit from resident poet Paul Cookson and have theirwork published in the Literacy Time Plus magazine and on the website.Children of all ages are invited to submit their original poems as partof their school entry, accompanied by a recording of the performance anda written introduction by teachers, describing the school and poetrycollection. For more information phone Sarah Sandland on 01926 333 336.Details will be published in the January 2009 issue of Literacy TimePlus magazine and on www.magazines.scholastic.co.uk/literacy_time.[BX] photo of the week Children from Alphabet House Day Nursery in LongEaton, Nottingham, enjoyed their first session popping corn around thecampfire after a community action group built them a firepit, a seatingarea and a toilet block in nearby woodland, which the nursery leases forits Forest School programme.
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