18/11/03 - New South Lakes Team to improve Early Years & Childcare Services

Cumbria’s Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership has now developed a South Lakes local area team, one of six local teams working across the county to ensure the individual family needs of communities are met and quality provision is there for all.  The Partnership, which supports the growth and quality of childcare provision available throughout Cumbria, has developed these teams so that it can respond more quickly and effectively to local needs.

County Councillor Joan Stocker, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education says

“Listening to parents and carers needs is at the heart of developing specific services for local communities. The whole aim of the team is to develop new childcare places and support existing groups such as full day-care, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, crèches, playgroups, childminders, home and home childcarers thereby providing local choice for parents.  This is done by working with partners in the statutory, voluntary, private and community sectors.  There are many innovative schemes already running throughout the County meeting the needs of their local community and I hope this excellent work continues with the support of these new teams.”    

In South Lakeland a comment from a busy mother led to the development of Little Gems, a facility run by qualified carers for children aged two-to-three-years old.  And this is just the latest scheme organised by Pennington Pre-School Nursery.  This is an excellent example of how local needs can be identified and met within the local community.    

Senior Development Worker for South Lakeland Area Team, Mary Wilkinson says   

“Over the last eight years, Pennington Pre-School Nursery has grown from three, two-hour morning sessions of playgroup to providing two-and-a-half hour sessions, five days a week of nursery education.  Three years ago they applied and received a New Opportunities Grant to extend to provide a Breakfast Club for three-to-eight year olds. While the younger children stayed for their nursery education the older pupils were walked to the nearby school.

New Opportunities Funding also enabled them to provide a five-day a-week lunch club for the three-to-five year olds and afternoon childcare sessions three days a week. These additional services are wrapped around nursery education, giving children in the area care from 7.45am until 3pm, and the Pennington After-School Club also offers additional care for older children.  They have worked closely with the school to provide seamless, wrap-round care.”

And two years ago they identified another need.  Mary explains:

“From a comment from a farmer’s wife that she didn’t have time to stay with her child at Parent and Toddler Group the need for care for two-to-three year olds was identified and Little Gems was set up through Local network Funding.  As well as giving children the opportunity to come to things which their parents cannot make, it also provided the parents with time to take a training course, have quality time with younger children or help reduce their stress levels by giving them a break. There is a link between child abuse and stress and giving parents the opportunity of a break can reduce that stress. Parents are always welcome to stay and get involved, but they have the option of having time to themselves.”   

To contact your local Area Team ring the Children’s Information Service on 08457 125737.