Noticeboard
Do you have a story to tell? Share it with us at news.nw@haymarket.com.
The best photo of the week will win £30 worth of children's books
OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Wiggly welcome
A new day nursery in Blaenau, Gwent, is the sixth to open in the county. Wiggly Giggly's, housed in Ebenezer Chapel in Ebbw Vale, is registered to care for 28 children and offers childcare for children aged between 12 weeks and five years, delivering the Birth to Three Matters Framework and Foundation Phase.
PEOPLE AND PLACES
Butterflies are free
Children from Busy Bees Nursery in St Matthews, Burntwood and Child First Day Nursery in Kingston, Solihull, West Midlands (pictured), learned about life cycles from watching caterpillars develop into butterflies. The children fed the caterpillars and recorded their growth while taking part in related activities such as painting their own model butterflies. Staff and children then released the hatched butterflies into the wild.
Model support
Ogley Hay Nursery in Brownhills, West Midlands, received a special visit from supermodel Erin O'Conner, who cut the ribbon to declare the opening of the school fete. The model, whose mother Victoria is the school's secretary and sister Kelly Yates is a learning support assistant, helped to boost sales on the books and toys stall. She said, 'I did my work experience here about 15 years ago when I was training to be a nursery nurse, so it's nice to come back.'
Honourable career
Chief executive of the Family and Parenting Institute (FPI) Mary MacLeod has been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University by the Open University. She was presented with the award in recognition of her position as a leading voice on children and family policy. After graduating from Edinburgh University, Ms MacLeod began her career as a social worker in children and family services. She went on to join Childline in 1991 and founded FPI in 1999.
IN STOCK
Workforce website
The Children's Workforce Development Council's new and improved website has gone live at www.cwdcouncil.org.uk. As well as having a stylish new look, content has been updated and training providers, employers, and other visitors can now search for information directly relevant to them. New sections have been designed to grow organically with user input and there are now dedicated regional pages for events and funding opportunities. Other new features include an events calendar and an eBulletin with the latest CWDC news. Photo of the week
Sunderland childminders (left to right) Lesley Avison, Carol Cameron, and Margaret Hawkins, members of the Sunderland childminding network, get together at Buttercups Day Nursery in Tyne and Wear to celebrate after they all received 'outstanding' grades from Ofsted. Carol said, 'I'm delighted with the inspection result. It shows that I'm doing a good job and it's great to be recognised for the level of care that I provide for children.'
