FIFTH OUTSTANDING
Pennywell Early Years Centre in Sunderland has just received its fifth outstanding grade from Ofsted. Inspectors commented on the centre's inclusive approach in offering the highest standards of care, with excellence in teaching and learning.
Head of Pennywell Early Years Centre, Judy Donnelly, said, 'To be recognised as a consistently outstanding school is a real credit to the dedication of the entire staff team and governors and an incredible achievement for everyone involved.'
A PIECE OF CAKE
More than £100 was raised for charity by selling cakes made by children at the kidsunlimited Body Shop day nursery in Littlehampton, West Sussex. After the event, staff created a copper trail using some of the money they made from the sale, for the children to follow and count.
FEEL LIKE DANCING
The senior management team of nursery chain Children 1st got disco fever at their annual staff conference and ball at the Hilton Sheffield Park Hotel in Yorkshire. Staff were celebrating everything the company achieved in the past year, including achieving outstanding Ofsted results and winning awards.
RISKY BUSINESS
Children at Elvetham Heath Day Nursery and Pre-School in Fleet, Hampshire, had lots of fun making crispie cakes outdoors using a portable gas camping stove. The aim of the activity was to promote controlled risks within the setting and show the children ways to identify danger.
QUALITY ON THE FARM
Staff at Bents Farm day nursery in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire, have been celebrating after completing Steps to Quality, the quality assurance scheme of Calderdale local authority.
The Steps to Quality scheme covers areas such as play, care and inclusion, environment, management, training and development and relationships. Settings must complete three steps to complete the scheme.
EVENTS
21 AND COUNTING
The Child Brain Injury Trust is inviting early years practitioners to take part in their Challenge 21 campaign and raise funds to support families affected by childhood brain injury.
The campaign, launched to mark the Trust's 21st anniversary, has a target of £210,000 to continue to help families over the next 21 years.
Participants in the fundraising must hold an event that involves the number 21, such as a 21-minute silence or 21-mile swim.
For more information and to register for Challenge 21, visit http://challenge21.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk.
HOLIDAY VOLUNTEERS
Sense, the charity for deaf-blind people, is calling for teachers and teaching assistants to volunteer to accompany deaf-blind children on a summer holiday.
Sense organises 26 summer holidays for deaf-blind children throughout July and August across England and Wales. Each holiday is planned around the needs and interests of the children.
Volunteers support children in all aspects of their daily routine, and may be needed to help with domestic duties and assist the leader and other volunteers during the holiday.
The deadline for applications is the end of March.
For more information visit http://www.sense.org.uk/volunteering/holiday.
IN STOCK
SPOT THE DANGERS
Children, families and early years practitioners can ward off potential accidents with a series of books by DangerSpot.
The picture books, designed for children three years old and up, include an advice sheet with six DangerSpot stickers for children to place around their setting or home.
There are 11 titles in the series. They include Fire in the Fryer, The Dangerous Road Game and A Dangerous Day on the Farm.
DangerSpot books cost £4.99 each and are available from www.dangerspot.co.uk.