06/01/04 - New Eden Team to Improve Early Years & Childcare Services

Cumbria’s Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership has now developed an Eden 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, Senior Development Worker for Eden says, 

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

An example of one of the innovative schemes currently running in Eden is the Travellers Play Bus Scheme.  The bus has been funded through the Mini Sure Start Programme and provides much needed additional early years and health provision for Travellers families in the area.  Traveller families have traditionally lived at Hadrian’s camp in Carlisle and Lakeland View in Penrith for many years, their children have attended local primary schools and there has been a growing need for these children to access nursery education in the area. A mobile nursery was set up in the past to travel between the two sites and offer quality nursery provision for the Traveller children.  As the need for a more coordinated and countywide approach of services to Traveller children and Minority Ethnic groups was recognized, the Specialist Teaching Service took on the responsibility of providing for these groups.  Sure Start considered this to be such an important service and therefore agreed to fund the new purpose built double-decker bus.  

Paul Bunyan continues, 

“This bus provides an opportunity to promote social inclusion and improve access to education & health services in this area. Cumbria EYDCP was awarded £470,000 over 2 years from Sure Start for additional services to the existing pre-school education service. The money was spent on this new specially adapted bus, together with the staff & equipment to run more education, play, and health & training sessions for children and parents. Traveller families are a significant minority group in Cumbria and their lifestyle means that children have received disjointed educational experiences in the past.  We are fully committed to increasing access to services while respecting the values and culture of the Traveller community.”

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