Features

Network Whispers - MP hacking apology, Community Playthings

Management Policy & Politics
Nursery World and National Day Nurseries Association join forces for a behind-the-scenes column

HACKED OFF New children and families minister Kemi Badenoch apologised to Labour MP Harriet Harman after hacking her website in 2008. Ms Badenoch said last year she ‘hacked into a Labour MP’s website and I changed stuff in there to say nice things about Tories.’ Harman accepted her apology. Hacking – which includes knowingly accessing an electronic system you are not supposed to have access to – is a criminal offence. Badenoch used to work as a software engineer – and has a degree in law.

INSIDE OUT Excitement and curiosity in early years circles about the documentary Inside the Bruderhof – the radical Christian community whose business arm is Community Playthings – was met with bemusement when it was cancelled at the last minute ‘because the news overran’. The Bruderhof website urges people to check the BBC website for a new date and offers the chance to apply for a visit. Whispers is intrigued.

SEND HELP Nurseries in Lancashire persuaded their council to give more support on SEND training. After hearing about lengthy gaps between specialist teacher visits, two SEND professionals gave advice to nurseries and drafted a help sheet, while the council is ‘looking at’ providing more affordable training and support. A member of the group said, ‘Together we can make a difference!’

INTERVIEW-READY Sticky Mits nursery in Doncaster is giving local college students mock interviews to help them put their learning into practice. NDNA’s Doncaster network has found that the students seem to forget their new skills when in a real-life interview situation. The owner of the family-run nursery said, ‘We know from our own staff who started through the college that they would have benefited from a helping hand. We are sure many would have slipped through the net because of a poor interview.’