OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Nursery solutions
Highbury Studios, the apartment complex built on the grounds of ArsenalFC's old football stadium, is now home to a new Bright Horizons FamilySolutions nursery. The Mount Carmel Early Care and Education Centreoffers 84 places and will be open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to6.30pm. It was officially opened last week by the Mayor of Islington,councillor Stefan Kasprzyk.
Cheeky day out
A fun day to celebrate the opening of a purpose-built children's centrein the West Midlands was hosted by Cheeky Monkey Events. A stilt-walkerand balloon-maker entertained children at Pear Tree Children's Centre inSidemoor, Worcestershire. The centre is first of five that will openacross the county in a partnership between Barnardo's and WorcestershireCounty Council.
PEOPLE AND PLACES
Chatter in character
Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nursery School in Islington, London, tookpart in I CAN's Chatterbox Challenge, a sponsored sing-along forchildren. Staff and children raised funds for I CAN by organising acarnival party in each room, where children dressed up and had theirfaces painted like the characters from the rhymes they sang.
IN STOCK
Partners at work
The National Day Nurseries Association has launched a free downloadableguide on partnership working for day nurseries. Building betterpartnerships: guidebook for PVI providers in England is available atwww.ndna.org.uk. The DCSF-supported guide explores partnership working,good partnership models and how to build an effective relationship withlocal authorities. Case studies on affordability and parent support areon the website to consult alongside the guidebook. While designed fornurseries, this guide will also be helpful for local authorities.
Online playspaces
Children can design their own play area online to help contribute to theGovernment's 'Fair Play' consultation, which was launched in April. Theinteractive website and poster campaign aims to encourage children tocommunicate their views on play and playspaces. Children can choose fromurban, rural or sports field settings, with add-ons including see-saws,roundabouts and climbing walls. There is also a series of questions onplay; the more questions answered, the more a child can build on theircreated play area. Visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/playspace.
Photos to trust
Independent and pre-schools having children's pictures taken can checkan association for professional independent school photographers.SchoolPhotoPro provides accreditation and formal standards forindependent school photographers in the UK and Ireland. All associatemembers are CRB-checked and insured and carry an ID card that links towww.schoolphotopro.com.
Photo of the week
One-year-old Courtney gets to grips with a red masterpiece during acreative free painting session at Abacus Nursery in Oxford. The privatenursery, located on the campus of Abingdon and Witney College, iscurrently looking for a new home (see page 3). Ofsted inspectorsdeclared the standard of education at the nursery as outstanding intheir report last year.
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