06/01/04 - New Carlisle Team to Improve Early Years and Childcare Services

Cumbria’s Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership has now developed a Carlisle 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.” 

Paul Bunyan, the Senior Development Worker for Carlisle says, 

“The team members have great experience in all areas of childcare and early education.  We are working with all childcare providers in Carlisle to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of the children and parents of Carlisle.” 

An example of one of the innovative schemes currently running in Carlisle is the ‘Playing for Success’ Project.  Cumbria Early Years & Childcare Service teamed up with Carlisle United Football Club to open a state-of-the-art, computerised Study Centre at the Club to raise literacy and numeracy skills of local children up to the age of 16.  Up to 20 pupils at a time use the Centre and United footballers mentor and encourage the youngsters throughout a 10-week course and present them with achievement certificates at the end.  The first children to benefit from the ‘Playing for Success’ project were from Tomlinson Junior School in Wigton and Newtown Community School in Carlisle.   The ‘Playing for Success’ project reflects the Council’s priority for working in partnership with businesses and organisations to support projects that aim to raise educational standards for young people.   

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