11/5/2005 - Brand New Resource Centre Now Open!

Early years providers in West Cumbria are set to benefit from a brand new Foundation Stage Resource Centre set up to support the work of all providers who deliver the foundation stage curriculum across the area. 

Victoria Ashfield, Corporate Director - Education will officially open the centre at the Old School at Distington on Wednesday 18th May at 10am. 

The Foundation Stage Resource Centre will provide a number of different services including: 

A loan service, providing a wide range of useful and exciting resources for use in early years settings. 

A catalogue of the resources available and an advance booking system so that resource loans can be linked with curriculum plans or current training activity.

Up to date resources and professional journals for early years staff.

A place where practitioners will want to come and share ideas, see what’s available, enjoy a cup of coffee and just have a browse! 

A book loan service provided by Cumbria County Council’s School Library Service.

In addition to the loan service, the centre also has a ‘classroom’ with displays of how some of the equipment available to borrow can be used. It has been designed to give practitioners new ideas for managing the learning environment. Training sessions can also be held at the centre. 

Ruth Guthrie, manager of the centre said: 

"We’ve had a number of trial drop in sessions and the feedback has been really positive. People are saying, ‘it’s just what we need’ so that’s great to hear. 

If we had divided up the money available between each early years provider then individual settings would have been able to afford just two or three new books. By investing the funding in a resource centre, practitioners will have access to a wide range of resources they would not otherwise have been able to afford. This will enable them to offer a diverse and more enriching learning experience to the children they work with. We hope as many providers as possible will use the new service."

The centre is open during normal office hours and some evenings at the start and end of term. Ruth also advises people to telephone first if they are making a special journey so that she can ensure she is available. 

Key partners involved in the new venture are the Foundation Stage Advisory Team, Cumbria County Council’s School Library Service, the local Inset Network and the Frizington Early Excellence Centre. Funding has come from Cumbria Sure Start as well as a donation of £8,000 from the county council's local committee for Copeland to buy equipment and resources. As well as housing the resource centre, the Old School in Distington is the base for a number of social services and NHS colleagues. 

For more information on the resources available either pop into the centre, call 01946 839830 or email ruth.guthrie@cumbriacc.gov.uk