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<strong>Take</strong>5 Winter 2009 Issue 12<br />
pg 04<br />
pg 05<br />
pg 10<br />
This newsletter is produced by the Children and Young People’s Strategic<br />
Partnership for professionals working with children, young people and families
Contents<br />
Young researchers on care homes<br />
Extended provision - Summer of fun<br />
Activities for young travellers<br />
Young carers present artwork<br />
Lincoln mums feature in breastfeeding calendar<br />
Positive activities for young people<br />
New Rural Youth Forum<br />
Healthy Schools Team celebrates success<br />
Supporting Parents Of Teenagers courses<br />
Top marks for county schools and news on<br />
school admissions<br />
V celebration event and <strong>Family</strong> <strong>Services</strong> Directory<br />
Snooker champion player and Positive Futures<br />
Separating parents pilot project<br />
Community garden restored and free swimming<br />
<strong>Family</strong> Learning<br />
Max Respect and Early Years Team wins award<br />
Support for Chernobyl children and young person’s<br />
drink debate and DVD<br />
New minibuses, and Big Toddle, Big Fun<br />
Contacts and Name change for 4all, plus teenage<br />
pregnancy team move<br />
2<br />
3<br />
4<br />
5<br />
5<br />
6<br />
7<br />
8<br />
9<br />
10<br />
11<br />
12<br />
13<br />
14<br />
15<br />
16<br />
17<br />
18<br />
19<br />
If you would like to submit a news story, comment on<br />
the publication or request more copies please contact:<br />
Debora Bright<br />
e. debora.bright@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
t. 01522 553924<br />
Distribution enquiries to:<br />
Chrissy Dodman<br />
e. chrissy.dodman@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
t. 01522 554241<br />
To request this publication in another format or<br />
language please contact one of the above numbers.<br />
An electronic version of <strong>Take</strong> 5 is available at<br />
www.lincolnshirechildren.net under Newsletters,<br />
Publications and Strategies.<br />
1 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
Dear colleagues<br />
A recent Ofsted inspection into Children’s<br />
<strong>Services</strong> highlighted good practice which is<br />
providing timely and effective safeguarding for<br />
children in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>. The unannounced<br />
inspection looked at contact, referral and<br />
assessment arrangements and will contribute<br />
to Ofsted’s annual review of the overall<br />
performance rating of Children’s <strong>Services</strong> later<br />
in the year.<br />
There were a number of good practice areas<br />
highlighted in the report and many examples<br />
of services making a real difference to children<br />
in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>. We capture some of this good<br />
practice through <strong>Take</strong> 5, with the Healthy<br />
Schools initiative, the launch of the <strong>Family</strong><br />
<strong>Services</strong> Directory and a focus on young carers.<br />
Children’s <strong>Services</strong> work well in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
because of the strong professional<br />
commitment and dedication of practitioners,<br />
working together to help and support our<br />
families.<br />
There is still much to be done, but I would<br />
like to congratulate and thank all practitioners<br />
for their valuable contribution in improving<br />
outcomes for children in the county.<br />
Peter Duxbury<br />
Director of Children’s <strong>Services</strong> for <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>
Young people<br />
undertake research<br />
on care homes<br />
Two young people played a vital<br />
role in a research project looking<br />
at the level of educational<br />
support provided to young<br />
people living in Residential<br />
Care Homes in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>.<br />
The research focussed on why<br />
some potentially able students in<br />
mainstream secondary schools<br />
didn’t perform as well as had<br />
been expected in the 2008<br />
GCSEs.<br />
The review was requested by Peter<br />
Duxbury, Director of Children’s<br />
<strong>Services</strong>, and conducted by Ken<br />
Frape, an independent consultant<br />
and former headteacher. Two<br />
young people, Georgia Keery and<br />
Janneke Earl, were invited to take<br />
part through <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County<br />
Council’s Participation Team who<br />
supported them throughout the<br />
project.<br />
During the review, they visited<br />
four residential children’s homes<br />
in Gainsborough, Market Rasen,<br />
Sleaford and Spalding, where<br />
they met staff, young people and<br />
managers. Elected Councillors were<br />
also invited to provide their views.<br />
Key recommendations in the report<br />
were: workforce development<br />
training, focussing on education,<br />
so that the progress of each child<br />
is viewed as a priority; regular<br />
quiet times for study, and further<br />
development of educational<br />
resources in each home.<br />
Georgia and Janneke were selected<br />
as they come from different<br />
backgrounds, and could give each<br />
other mutual support. Georgia has<br />
experienced living in residential<br />
children’s homes, while Janneke has<br />
lived with her family and been well<br />
supported at home and school.<br />
Georgia said, “I think every foster<br />
and children’s home should have<br />
a dedicated room for studying. If<br />
someone starts kicking off, staff focus<br />
on them and other people can’t<br />
study.”<br />
“It really helps people to study if<br />
they have things of their own like a<br />
laptop or even pens. Little things like<br />
that matter.”<br />
“Janneke and I both noticed things<br />
during the research that the other<br />
hadn’t. We felt that staff in children’s<br />
homes are doing a really good<br />
job, but some aspects need to be<br />
looked at. Support and stability are<br />
very important for young people, to<br />
help them do well in education and<br />
afterwards.”<br />
Georgia left and Janneke (centre) were<br />
presented with certificates of appreciation<br />
for their work, by Sue Westcott, Assistant<br />
Director, Children’s <strong>Services</strong><br />
Janneke said, “It was all really new<br />
to me. Until I met Georgia I hadn’t<br />
met anyone in care and I really<br />
wanted to take part in the research.<br />
I realised that young people do have<br />
a lot of support in care homes and it<br />
should be a positive experience.<br />
“I think the balance worked well<br />
between Georgia and I.”<br />
Sue Westcott, Assistant Director<br />
of Children’s <strong>Services</strong> said, “The<br />
research is an excellent and<br />
informative piece of work, which<br />
helped us to understand why<br />
some young people in public care<br />
did well in school and others did<br />
not.”<br />
“In their interviews with young<br />
people, Janneke and Georgia<br />
found that those who did well<br />
required stability of care, good<br />
staff support and encouragement,<br />
and good career advice. We’ll be<br />
taking those findings forward and<br />
promoting their attainment.”<br />
For more information, or for a<br />
copy of the report, please contact<br />
Chris Fowler, Virtual School<br />
Head, Children in Public Care<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>:<br />
t. 01522 553901<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 2
Summer of fun in Bourne<br />
In a great example of<br />
partnership working, a group<br />
of organisations in Bourne put<br />
together a packed programme<br />
of activities to keep children and<br />
young people busy all through<br />
the summer.<br />
The programme was put together<br />
by the Bourne ‘cluster’, a group<br />
of schools which have joined up<br />
to ensure co-ordinated delivery of<br />
Extended Provision, and the five<br />
core offers of Every Child Matters.<br />
The youth service, as well as<br />
schools, the police, South Kesteven<br />
District Council and <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
County Council, also contributed to<br />
the activities.<br />
This was the first time all the<br />
partners got together to put<br />
together a cohesive programme<br />
In order to support schools<br />
to deliver Extended <strong>Services</strong><br />
effectively, <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County<br />
Council has developed a set<br />
of electronic templates to be<br />
utilised by schools, the clusters<br />
and co-ordinators to promote<br />
extended services/activities<br />
being provided in and around<br />
schools.<br />
3 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
– in previous years they organised<br />
events separately.<br />
Among the activities on offer, Sally<br />
Donaldson, a teacher at Robert<br />
Manning School organised two<br />
archery sessions, for younger and<br />
older children.<br />
Eleven year old twins Tamsin and<br />
Shannon both tried archery. They<br />
live in a rural area near Spalding,<br />
and Tamsin said, “Doing the<br />
archery is really good, as where<br />
we live there’s nothing to do and<br />
you can’t really play out.”<br />
Hannah, age 10 from Bourne,<br />
enjoyed lots of activities provided<br />
over the summer. As well as trying<br />
out archery, she had enjoyed a hip<br />
hop dance workshop, summer<br />
The templates have been provided<br />
in a wide range of formats and<br />
are easy to use. They will create a<br />
consistent, professional identity for<br />
any materials that you produce.<br />
Templates and guidelines are available<br />
on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/ep or<br />
for more information, please contact<br />
Debora Bright on:<br />
t. 01522 553924<br />
e. debora.bright@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
drama school, spray art, and was<br />
looking forward to a free cinema<br />
session. Hannah said, “The activities<br />
are really fun, and it’s boring at<br />
home, apart from playing out with<br />
friends, there’s nothing to do.”<br />
Spray art proved a popular activity<br />
at Bourne Youth Centre. Youngsters<br />
used spray art techniques to create<br />
striking effects on t-shirts, old<br />
records and canvases.<br />
Abi, age 16, learnt how to do spray<br />
art last year, and has applied for<br />
Youth Opportunity Fund support<br />
to enable her to go to other youth<br />
centres in the county and pass on<br />
her skills to more young people.<br />
For more details contact<br />
Philip Gaskell, Development Officer on:<br />
t. 01476 590034<br />
e. philip.gaskell@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
Templates to promote Extended <strong>Services</strong>
Young Travellers try out new activities<br />
Through a project provided by<br />
Gainsborough Traveller Initiative<br />
and <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County<br />
Council’s Traveller Education<br />
Team, a group of young<br />
Travellers from Gainsborough<br />
and Lincoln have been able to<br />
experience new activities and<br />
learn new skills through a series<br />
of events this summer. The<br />
project is planned to run for the<br />
next year and will hopefully<br />
become a permanent service.<br />
According to Paul Boucher,<br />
Advisory/Support Teacher, “A lot<br />
of Traveller children are outside<br />
the education system as they have<br />
a mobile lifestyle. Many boys start<br />
working with their dads from a<br />
young age, while the girls often stay<br />
at home and look after younger<br />
siblings.”<br />
“Through Extended <strong>Services</strong> funding<br />
we are providing weekly sessions<br />
at Benjamin Adlard School in<br />
Gainsborough, as well as monthly<br />
activities at Hill Holt Wood.<br />
They could lead into vocational<br />
‘Two new publications have<br />
been produced for parents who<br />
have children with additional<br />
needs or severe learning<br />
difficulties or disabilities. They<br />
are designed to help parents<br />
understand all the options open to<br />
their children so they can take a<br />
key role in the transition processes<br />
and help make the best decisions<br />
courses such as hairdressing or<br />
blacksmithing. There is a sizeable<br />
element of fun and enjoyment, as<br />
well as the opportunity to try out<br />
new sports and games.”<br />
Two young Travellers, Maryanne<br />
and Laura Jane hope to become<br />
fashion designers. They have now<br />
secured funding to put on a full<br />
fashion show.<br />
Robert, another young<br />
Traveller, completed a course at<br />
Gainsborough Fire Station. He<br />
was so inspired, he now wants to<br />
be a firefighter. He experienced<br />
firefighters’ daily work, including<br />
practising rescues and using cutting<br />
equipment.<br />
LCC is also providing 40 laptops<br />
for Traveller families, to be used<br />
for educational purposes. The<br />
laptops will provide filtered internet<br />
access and will be invaluable for<br />
young Travellers and their families<br />
in gaining IT skills and carrying out<br />
school work.<br />
possible regarding their children’s<br />
future options.<br />
‘Choices for Young people<br />
with Additional Needs’ explains<br />
their options and explains the help<br />
offered through the Connexions<br />
service. ‘Decisions for students<br />
with Severe Learning or Physical<br />
Disabilities’ explains options<br />
Anyone wanting to know more<br />
about the project can contact Sam<br />
Turner, Gainsborough Traveller<br />
Initiative Manager on:<br />
t. 07709289505<br />
e. sam.turner@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
or Paul Boucher Advisory/Support<br />
Teacher on:<br />
t. 07717430651<br />
e. paul.boucher@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
and gives advice about finance,<br />
applications, and social care support.<br />
Both booklets have been produced<br />
by the Teenage <strong>Services</strong> Information<br />
Team in partnership with the<br />
Transition Team.<br />
For more information please<br />
contact John Herbert, Teenage<br />
<strong>Services</strong> Information Manager on:<br />
t. 01522 555518<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 4
Young carers present<br />
artwork<br />
A group of young carers<br />
presented <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County<br />
Council with a striking piece<br />
of artwork representing<br />
different aspects of their life,<br />
during Carers Week 8 to 12<br />
June.<br />
The <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Young Carers<br />
Partnership Team presented the<br />
artwork to Martin Hill, Leader<br />
of LCC, Tony McArdle, Chief<br />
Executive, and Peter Duxbury,<br />
Director of Children’s <strong>Services</strong>, at<br />
County Offices, Newland.<br />
The artwork had been<br />
commissioned by Action for<br />
Young Carers. Artist, Kate Pinfold<br />
worked with a group of young<br />
carers, using art to explore<br />
the complexity of emotions<br />
surrounding caring.<br />
5 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
Peter Duxbury, Director of<br />
Children’s <strong>Services</strong> said, “It’s<br />
fantastic that we are able to<br />
display this fabulous piece<br />
of artwork on the walls of<br />
County Offices.”<br />
“Many young people have<br />
been caring from a very<br />
young age and maybe don’t<br />
see themselves in this light,<br />
but this exposure may help<br />
them to recognise their role<br />
as a young carer and come<br />
forward for support.”<br />
Through the county council’s<br />
Home Targeted Access to IT<br />
programme, 38 young carers<br />
are being provided with laptops.<br />
These will give them the flexibility<br />
to do school work at home, and<br />
access to information on their<br />
caring role, as well as access<br />
to peer support and social<br />
networking.<br />
For more details contact Helen<br />
Wydell, Service Manager, Action<br />
for Young Carers on:<br />
t. 01205 358834<br />
e. h.wydell@carersfederation.<br />
co.uk<br />
Lincoln mums feature<br />
in breastfeeding<br />
calendar<br />
To raise awareness of the benefits of<br />
breastfeeding for mother and child, mums<br />
from Lincoln’s breastfeeding support<br />
group, Breaststart, have featured in a<br />
special calendar and short video.<br />
The 2009 - 2010 calendar was launched in<br />
October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month<br />
2009, and features photographs that prove<br />
breastfeeding can be done discreetly, wherever<br />
mums happen to be.<br />
A short video clip compiled by NHS<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> shows mums telling their story<br />
behind the calendar. NHS <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> and<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council are jointly funding<br />
1,000 copies of the calendar to be distributed<br />
through Breaststart groups, Children’s Centres,<br />
health visitors and midwives.<br />
Julie Cantwell, Infant Feeding Co-ordinator<br />
for <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Community Health <strong>Services</strong><br />
said, “The calendar is a great way to promote<br />
positive messages about breastfeeding. There<br />
are 23 Breaststart groups in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
providing excellent support and advice to<br />
women who are thinking about breastfeeding.”<br />
For more information on the calendar visit:<br />
http://www.lpct.nhs.uk/en/news/Latest-<br />
News1/Mums-launch-unique-calender-topromote-breastfeeding/<br />
or contact Paivi<br />
Bathaway, Health Care Co-ordinator on:<br />
t. 01205 319899<br />
e. paivi.bathaway@lpct-nhs.uk<br />
Or for more information on Breaststart<br />
groups contact Julie Cantwell, Infant Feeding<br />
Co-ordinator for <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Community<br />
Health <strong>Services</strong>:<br />
t. 01522 876688
POSITIVE<br />
ABOUT<br />
YOU!<br />
Having Fun for Free!<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council is<br />
offering free activities to children<br />
and young people living in<br />
areas of disadvantage across<br />
the county through its Positive<br />
About You (PAY) project.<br />
The project aims to encourage<br />
young people to get involved in<br />
local activities for free. The activities<br />
on offer include; joining a sports<br />
team; learning to play an instrument;<br />
joining an after school club or drama<br />
club, and much more!<br />
There are four elements to the<br />
Positive About You project:<br />
• The Extended Provision Subsidy<br />
Pathfinder is open to children<br />
and young people enrolled<br />
from primary to secondary<br />
schools in North Lincoln,<br />
Holbeach or Mablethorpe, who<br />
are either in public care or<br />
eligible for free school meals.<br />
The funding will enable them to<br />
access extended provision<br />
activities in schools and<br />
communities.<br />
• PAY is available to young people,<br />
between the ages of 14-16, who<br />
are living in public care,<br />
anywhere in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>.<br />
• For over 17s, who are living in<br />
or about to leave public care<br />
there is a driving lesson package<br />
which includes a provisional<br />
licence, up to 25 driving lessons,<br />
a copy of the Highway Code,<br />
and a theory and practical test.<br />
• PAY also sources appropriate<br />
activities for young people who<br />
Support for pregnant teenagers<br />
Young women who find out they<br />
are unexpectedly pregnant can find<br />
it a confusing and lonely experience.<br />
Relate <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> offers free<br />
counselling support to teenagers<br />
that help will answer some of their<br />
questions.<br />
The young women can talk in<br />
complete confidence to a trained<br />
and qualified counsellor who will<br />
provide an unbiased listening service<br />
and help them to explore their<br />
options before making a decision.<br />
Relate <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> can also provide<br />
support to the partner, parents or<br />
friends of the pregnant teenager.<br />
There are Relate centres across<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> and an appointment<br />
can usually be arranged within<br />
a few days. The service will be<br />
meet the Aiming High criteria for<br />
Short Breaks.<br />
Lindsay Parker, PAY project<br />
manager: said,<br />
“PAY will organise and pay for<br />
the activities requested, so all<br />
the young person needs to do is<br />
choose a fun pastime and show up!<br />
“PAY aims to ensure that<br />
disadvantaged young people could<br />
enjoy the same leisure activities as<br />
others their age.<br />
“It’s a worthwhile project. Young<br />
people who choose to participate<br />
in activities outside school are<br />
much more likely to do well at<br />
school, stay in education longer<br />
and have better self-esteem.”<br />
For more information please contact<br />
the Positive About You Team:<br />
Newporte House, Low Moor Road,<br />
Lincoln, LN6 3JY<br />
t. 01522 875477<br />
offered as close as possible to the<br />
young person’s home, or where<br />
appropriate, counselling can also be<br />
offered in school or another suitable<br />
location.<br />
To contact Relate and talk to a<br />
trained and qualified counsellor<br />
call:<br />
t. 01522 524922<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 6
New Forum gives rural youth a voice<br />
In a large agricultural county<br />
like <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>, many issues<br />
can affect children and young<br />
people living in rural areas.<br />
Alison Roberts, of the Rural<br />
Detached Team, said these<br />
issues can include, “No<br />
transport, no shops, and nothing<br />
to do, and these can lead to<br />
problems such as drinking,<br />
smoking, low level crime and<br />
underage sex.<br />
“People tend to think these<br />
issues affect urban areas, but<br />
even in villages, there can be<br />
poverty and isolation.”<br />
Alison added, “Isolation can lead to<br />
mental health problems, loneliness,<br />
poor communication skills, and<br />
a risk of young people making<br />
inappropriate contacts online.”<br />
To address some of these issues,<br />
Alison is part of a team which has<br />
set up the Rural Youth Forum,<br />
consisting of 10 members aged<br />
11 to 20, representing a range of<br />
abilities and backgrounds.<br />
7 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
The forum will meet regularly so<br />
that members will get to know each<br />
other, and will develop policies on<br />
issues such as affordable housing,<br />
transport and employment.<br />
Members will be able to canvas<br />
the views of other children and<br />
young people living in rural locations<br />
throughout <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>, and will<br />
also be able to meet decision<br />
makers and discuss their concerns.<br />
They will also look at the different<br />
problems that urban and rural<br />
populations can face.<br />
Member of the Rural Youth<br />
Forum Emily Smyika, age 16 said,<br />
“It’s important to be involved in<br />
something that affects so many<br />
young people, it’s a subject that I<br />
can relate to – being a voice for<br />
rural young people will hopefully<br />
make change.”<br />
Genevieve Moore age 17 says that<br />
she joined the Rural Youth Forum<br />
because, “I hope to show that we’re<br />
willing to work for things. Young<br />
people get a lot of bad press and it’s<br />
quite annoying to be judged by the<br />
behaviour of some.”<br />
Alison hopes to establish an online<br />
rural network, based on one in<br />
Australia. It would be secure and<br />
password protected, so only people<br />
of a similar age would be able to<br />
access it.<br />
The Rural Youth Forum has a<br />
section on www.c4yp.co.uk<br />
the website for young people in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> at http://www.c4yp.<br />
co.uk/section.asp?catid=21920<br />
For more information please<br />
contact Alison Roberts, Rural<br />
Detached Team – Children’s<br />
<strong>Services</strong>:<br />
t. 01673 866493<br />
or 07845 821394<br />
e. alison.roberts@lincolnshire.<br />
gov.uk
Healthy Schools<br />
team celebrates<br />
success<br />
The Healthy Schools Team<br />
– a partnership between<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council<br />
and NHS <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> - has had<br />
many reasons to be cheerful<br />
lately, winning several top<br />
awards and being well on track<br />
to meet their target for all schools<br />
in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> to achieve Healthy<br />
Schools status.<br />
The team’s ‘Growing Children,<br />
Growing Grub’ project won<br />
Commended in the Healthy Eating<br />
Category in the national Health<br />
for Kids Awards 2009, run in<br />
partnership with the British Heart<br />
Foundation.<br />
Janet Flett, Healthy Schools Team<br />
Manager said, “We started the<br />
project to join in with the Year of<br />
Food and Farming. <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> is<br />
a large rural community and we<br />
wanted children aged two to 16 to<br />
be able to get involved in growing<br />
their own fruit and vegetables.”<br />
“It didn’t matter if schools had an<br />
allotment, or pots and tubs, they<br />
could all take part.”<br />
The Healthy Schools Team joined<br />
up with the Co-op,which gave<br />
£100 worth of growing equipment<br />
to all schools that signed up.<br />
The winning school, Heckington<br />
St Andrews Church of England<br />
Primary School enjoyed a trip to<br />
Prince Charles’ Highgrove Farm last<br />
summer. (See photo above).<br />
The team was also delighted to win<br />
two awards in NHS <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>’s<br />
Celebrating Success Awards. Their<br />
Pyramid programme won the<br />
award for the Promotion of Equality<br />
and Diversity.<br />
Janet explained, “The programme is<br />
aimed at children and young people<br />
who have self-esteem problems.<br />
They don’t necessarily behave badly<br />
and are often overlooked in the<br />
classroom.”<br />
Trained volunteers work with<br />
selected children over 10 weeks<br />
and help them develop social and<br />
emotional confidence.<br />
Evaluation has shown that the<br />
programme is having positive<br />
results, with less bullying<br />
in schools, less friction in<br />
the playground, and better<br />
performance in the classroom as<br />
a whole.<br />
The team was also runner up in the<br />
Maximising Resources section for<br />
its work as county lead in training<br />
The winning school in the ‘Growing<br />
Children, Growing Grub’ project was<br />
Heckington St Andrews Church of England<br />
Primary School.<br />
teachers, school nurses and other<br />
professionals in Personal, Social and<br />
Health Education (PSHE).<br />
The Healthy Schools Team is also<br />
celebrating the fact that 99.1 %<br />
of all schools in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> have<br />
signed up to achieve Healthy<br />
Schools Status, with 70.3% schools<br />
having achieved that status. Schools<br />
have to meet 41 criteria to achieve<br />
that status, requiring considerable<br />
commitment.<br />
Pupils from Ruskington Winchelsea Primary<br />
School enjoyed a trip to the ‘Ready Steady<br />
Cook’ studio.<br />
For more information, please<br />
contact Janet Flett, Healthy<br />
Schools Team Manager:<br />
t. 01522 550530<br />
e. janet.flett@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 8
Supporting Parents of Teenagers<br />
Courses help parents communicate with their teenagers<br />
Supporting Parents of Teenagers<br />
(SPOT) courses have been<br />
delivered throughout<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>, helping parents<br />
to communicate with their<br />
teenagers and improve their<br />
family life.<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Educational Psychology<br />
Service first decided to bring the<br />
course to <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> having been<br />
impressed by positive feedback on<br />
the course from Hampshire County<br />
Council.<br />
Following facilitator training, Rosalyn<br />
Spencer, Parenting Coordinator<br />
for <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Youth Offending<br />
Service, delivered her first SPOT<br />
course in Spalding in 2007.<br />
Not only did the parents who took<br />
part find the course informative<br />
and enjoyable, they found that<br />
putting their new parenting skills into<br />
9 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
practice improved the behaviour<br />
of their children, improved<br />
relationships and overall led to a<br />
better quality of family life.<br />
Rosalyn found that the course helps<br />
parents improve their understanding<br />
of teenage behaviour and develop<br />
skills to manage change.<br />
It also helps parents improve<br />
the way they communicate<br />
with their teenager and builds<br />
self-confidence. The course<br />
is designed to be fun and<br />
enjoyable. One parent described<br />
the course as “fun and funky”!<br />
Rhona Paterson, Senior Educational<br />
Psychologist, and Rosalyn were<br />
eager to work together to run a<br />
larger pilot project in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
in the hope of getting the course<br />
accredited by the National Academy<br />
of Parenting Practitioners. A<br />
successful bid for funding through<br />
the Alcohol Strategic Management<br />
Board led to the course being<br />
extended from eight to 10 weeks to<br />
include two weeks relating to risks<br />
around alcohol and drugs.<br />
The parents are shown ways<br />
they can help their children resist<br />
negative influences in relation to<br />
drugs and alcohol, and how they<br />
can deal with peer pressure from<br />
their friends.<br />
Thanks to the funding, seven SPOT<br />
Courses have been delivered<br />
around the county. The courses are<br />
free for parents to attend and are<br />
open to any parents who feel they<br />
would benefit from the course.<br />
There are plans to run more SPOT<br />
courses. For more information contact<br />
Rosalyn Spencer:<br />
t. 07795 603683<br />
e. rosalyn.spencer@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Top marks for<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> schools<br />
Provisional figures released<br />
by <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> schools<br />
show that the overall pass<br />
rate for the national key<br />
GCSE indicator of 5+A*-C<br />
(including English and Maths)<br />
has increased to 57%. Once<br />
again <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> schools’<br />
overall performance is likely<br />
to be well above the national<br />
average for maintained<br />
schools.<br />
Two schools, Caistor<br />
Yarborough School and<br />
Horncastle Queen Elizabeth’s<br />
Grammar School, achieved<br />
100% at 5+A*-C, including<br />
English and Maths.<br />
Many schools had significant<br />
improvements against national<br />
estimates for the 5+A*-C,<br />
including English and Maths,<br />
pass rate including Stickney<br />
William Lovell CofE School<br />
and Grantham St Hugh’s CofE<br />
Mathematics & Computing<br />
College who both achieved well<br />
above expectations.<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> had five out of<br />
11 maintained schools which<br />
moved above the National<br />
Challenge floor target of 30%<br />
5+A*-C, including English<br />
and Maths, since 2008.<br />
These were Alford John<br />
Spendluffe Technology College;<br />
Mablethorpe Tennyson High<br />
School; North Somercotes<br />
The Birkbeck School; Stamford<br />
Queen Eleanor Community<br />
School and Stickney William<br />
Lovell CofE School.<br />
The overall 5+ A*-C pass<br />
rate for GCSEs and equivalent<br />
examinations in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> has<br />
increased by more than 5% this<br />
year to an outstanding figure of<br />
76%. Again, this is likely to be<br />
well above the national average<br />
for maintained schools.<br />
Four maintained schools and two<br />
academies gained 100% 5+ A*<br />
to C: Alford Queen Elizabeth’s<br />
Grammar School, Caistor<br />
Yarborough School, Grantham<br />
Kesteven and Grantham Girls’<br />
School, Horncastle Queen<br />
Elizabeth’s Grammar School,<br />
Lincoln The Priory Witham<br />
Academy, Lincoln The Priory<br />
LSST Academy.<br />
Schools across the county<br />
also achieved excellent results<br />
in A-level and equivalent<br />
examinations. Although not<br />
all school results are in yet,<br />
provisional indications are that<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> scored an overall<br />
A-E grade pass rate of 97.8%<br />
for A-level qualifications, which<br />
is above the national average.<br />
Twenty one out of 35 schools<br />
with sixth form results have<br />
improved their performance<br />
since 2008.<br />
New starters<br />
and movers<br />
Each year, <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council<br />
advise parents to return applications<br />
for admission to primary and<br />
secondary schools by the required<br />
dates.<br />
The deadline for applications for secondary<br />
schools was 23 October 2009. Application<br />
packs for primary schools were available<br />
from 28 September, with a deadline of 18<br />
December.<br />
Parents can collect the packs from their<br />
primary school of choice. Information for<br />
parents is available in a handbook called<br />
‘Going to School in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>’ which<br />
is also available at www.lincolnshire.gov.<br />
uk/schooladmissions, along with an online<br />
service and other materials to help parents.<br />
Parents can also see the admission policy<br />
in the school brochure and on school<br />
websites.<br />
The independent ‘Choice Advice’ service<br />
is available to help any parent in need of<br />
further advice and information.<br />
The county council expects about 8,000<br />
secondary applications and 7,000 primary<br />
applications, which will be dealt with<br />
provided parents return them on time.<br />
Last year nine out of 10 children were<br />
given their first choice of school and 99%<br />
were given one of their three preferred<br />
schools.<br />
In March, when school places are offered<br />
to parents, help is still available from the<br />
county council via the reserve list and there<br />
is also an appeals process.<br />
For more information contact Chris<br />
Wrench, School Admissions Team on:<br />
t. 01522 782030<br />
e. schooladmissions@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 10
Music to their ears<br />
at v-celebration<br />
Young volunteers from across<br />
the county met at Woodland<br />
Waters, Ancaster to celebrate<br />
their first year of ‘v’ at an<br />
awards ceremony in July.<br />
Over 80 young people, their<br />
family, friends and <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
County Council employees<br />
were treated to a celebratory<br />
meal, with presentations,<br />
awards, quizzes and music from<br />
Boston band 93 degrees.<br />
One of the event organisers,<br />
Chris Bushby, said, “This is a<br />
celebration to recognise the<br />
achievements over the last<br />
year. We are presenting 50<br />
awards, which are awarded<br />
on the number of hours spent<br />
volunteering and the diversity<br />
of the voluntary activities<br />
undertaken.”<br />
A key partner, the Red Cross,<br />
works in communities with<br />
under 26s across the whole<br />
of <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> and North East<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> to provide basic first<br />
aid skills.<br />
The vinvolved team in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>, led by Urban<br />
Challenge and involving<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council<br />
and <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Council for<br />
11 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
Voluntary Youth <strong>Services</strong>, is<br />
part of v’s £75 million National<br />
Youth Volunteering Programme,<br />
which aims to inspire 500,000<br />
young people aged 16 - 25 to<br />
get positively involved in their<br />
communities.<br />
For more information about ‘v’<br />
or the vinvolved team please<br />
contact Chris Bushby, Youth<br />
Volunteer Advisor, Sleaford<br />
Connexions Centre, on:<br />
t. 01529 303707<br />
e. chris.bushby@lincolnshire.<br />
gov.uk<br />
<strong>Family</strong> info - online<br />
The <strong>Family</strong> <strong>Services</strong> Directory (FSD) is<br />
a new online resource which aims to<br />
support parents and carers, and those<br />
working with families in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> to<br />
access information, advice and support.<br />
The FSD has been developed in<br />
consultation with parents, carers,<br />
practitioners and providers. It can help<br />
with advice and has an online childcare,<br />
Events and Activities diary. There are also<br />
dedicated areas for practitioners, partners<br />
and providers.<br />
The FSD also supports the national Parent<br />
Know How Directory (PKHD), developed<br />
by the DCSF. The PKHD aims to improve<br />
support for parents across England as local<br />
authorities and the DCSF work together<br />
to deliver high quality and easily accessible<br />
local and national information around<br />
childcare and family services.<br />
Debbie Barnes, Assistant Director of<br />
Children’s <strong>Services</strong> and Cllr Mrs Bradwell<br />
launched the FSD formally on 9 October<br />
in a day of activities at Welton Children’s<br />
Centre. Visit <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> <strong>Family</strong> <strong>Services</strong><br />
Directory at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fsd<br />
For more information please contact<br />
Bridie Fletcher Project Officer - <strong>Family</strong><br />
Information Service on:<br />
t. 01522 553400<br />
m. 07825 531215<br />
e. bridie.fletcher@lincolnshire.gov.uk
A Step Closer To World Champion<br />
A youngster from <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
has taken a step closer to his<br />
dream of becoming a world<br />
champion snooker player after<br />
winning the U16 Clubs for<br />
Young People (CYP) Snooker<br />
Championship.<br />
Steven Hallworth, aged 13, from<br />
Skellingthorpe, won the U16 (CYP)<br />
UK Snooker Championship having<br />
beaten his Welsh competitor, Chris<br />
Edwards, 79-5 in the final frame.<br />
Steven progressed to the<br />
championship, having won the<br />
county tournament held in Boston,<br />
part of an annual calendar of events<br />
put on by <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County<br />
Council’s Children’s <strong>Services</strong> Sports<br />
Development Team. Steven was<br />
joined by several other young<br />
people representing <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
Children’s <strong>Services</strong>.<br />
Steven said, “I started playing pool<br />
at the age of five and then snooker<br />
from the age of eight.<br />
Steven has been presented with<br />
a congratulatory certificate from<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council at<br />
North Hykeham Youth Centre.<br />
Positive Futures in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> is hosting Positive<br />
Futures, a national sports and<br />
activities-based social inclusion<br />
programme for young people<br />
aged between 10 and 19. It is<br />
part of a series of community<br />
projects which aim to leave a<br />
legacy that others can continue.<br />
Positive Futures is funded by the<br />
Home Office Drugs Strategy<br />
Directorate and operates in 123<br />
projects in some of the most<br />
deprived areas across England and<br />
Wales.<br />
Positive Futures in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> was<br />
established to deliver sport and<br />
activity programmes to eight to 24<br />
year olds across the county. It aims<br />
to tackle alcohol misuse and lower<br />
levels of anti-social behaviour (ASB)<br />
“I have wanted to win this<br />
tournament for quite a while<br />
so it felt amazing when I finally<br />
achieved it”.<br />
among young people.<br />
Alex Mulligan, Positive Futures<br />
Community Sports Worker,<br />
Lincoln, said, “The programme<br />
uses sport to engage young people<br />
and offer an alternative to alcohol<br />
and ASB.<br />
“A range of progressive sports<br />
and activities are offered to young<br />
people, which will benefit local<br />
communities by supporting the<br />
task of the neighbourhood policing<br />
teams and reducing fear of crime in<br />
that area.”<br />
Seven Positive Futures Community<br />
Sports Workers are based in<br />
Lincoln, Boston, Grantham and<br />
Sleaford.<br />
Dave Sampher, Sports<br />
Development Manager,<br />
For more information about Steven’s<br />
achievements please contact David<br />
Sampher, Sports Development<br />
Manager on:<br />
t. 01522 680034<br />
e. david.sampher@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council, said:<br />
“Positive Futures in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> has<br />
received a tremendous contribution<br />
from the communities agency<br />
and the crime and disorder group<br />
which has allowed this project to<br />
run locally.”<br />
For more information please<br />
contact: David Sampher on the<br />
details above.<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 12
Support for Families in the<br />
Process of Separation<br />
‘Parents Apart but Working<br />
Together’ is a joint pilot project<br />
between <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County<br />
Council and Relate <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> to<br />
support families in the process of<br />
separation. Funding resulted from<br />
a successful bid through the Child<br />
Poverty Pilots programme from the<br />
DCSF.<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council chose<br />
to work with Relate as they have<br />
extensive experience of working<br />
with couples, families, mediation<br />
and counselling.<br />
Debbie Barnes, Assistant Director,<br />
Children <strong>Services</strong>, <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
County Council, said,<br />
“<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council, in<br />
partnership with Relate Lincoln<br />
are delighted to have been<br />
selected as one of the pilot areas<br />
to deliver this innovative service.<br />
‘Parents Apart but Working<br />
Together’ will provide valuable<br />
support to separating and<br />
separated parents.<br />
“Securing this funding will<br />
13 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
enable us to deliver a seamless<br />
package of services to the<br />
families of <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>, ensuring<br />
much-needed support is<br />
available and accessible.”<br />
“This resource will make a<br />
considerable difference to<br />
families and positively impact on<br />
achieving better outcomes for<br />
both parents and children.”<br />
Glynise Coulson, Principal<br />
Practitioner – Parenting said, “Most<br />
practitioners working with families<br />
recognise the negative impact on<br />
families when they break down and<br />
parents are unable to maintain a<br />
positive relationship.”<br />
The project will offer a ‘One<br />
Stop Shop’ service for families<br />
and professionals across the<br />
statutory and voluntary sectors in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>. It will offer families,<br />
children and parents support,<br />
advice, mediation and up to 10<br />
counselling sessions, and establish<br />
a model of ongoing support and<br />
intervention.<br />
parents apart but<br />
working together<br />
It will be open to both parents,<br />
and structured to be father<br />
friendly. There will also be access<br />
to information from the Citizens<br />
Advice Bureau, provided at<br />
designated Children’s Centres.<br />
Families’ progress will be followed at<br />
three month intervals after they’ve<br />
left the project, and offered the<br />
opportunity to re-engage if they feel<br />
it would be beneficial.<br />
The project will cover specific<br />
areas including Lincoln – Moorland,<br />
Glebe, Birchwood, Abbey and<br />
Castle wards; Gainsborough,<br />
Mablethorpe, Boston and Skegness.<br />
For more information please contact<br />
Glynise Coulson, Principal Practitioner<br />
– Parenting on:<br />
t. 01522 553400<br />
e. glynise.coulson@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
The project has a phoneline for<br />
parents on:<br />
t. 0845 6046206
Young people<br />
bring community<br />
garden back to life<br />
Young people from the<br />
Hartsholme estate in Lincoln<br />
have worked tirelessly with the<br />
help of <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County<br />
Council and the police to restore<br />
a community garden to its<br />
former glory.<br />
The project was initiated by Sharon<br />
Rideout, Youth Development<br />
Worker, who encouraged local<br />
young people to get involved, as<br />
well as external agencies.<br />
Sharon said, “After the base work<br />
it was easier to start the garden<br />
Swim4Life<br />
A Government funded project<br />
offering children and young people<br />
the chance to swim for free has<br />
been given significant additional<br />
funding from NHS <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>.<br />
The additional funding will allow<br />
every district in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> to offer<br />
free swimming for young people<br />
aged 16 and under and also for local<br />
residents aged 60 and over.<br />
To take advantage of this scheme<br />
young people need to register with<br />
one of the participating pools – the<br />
effectiveness of the scheme will be<br />
measured by how many children<br />
and young people register and how<br />
many times they swim.<br />
Councillor Mrs Sue Woolley,<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council’s<br />
Executive Councillor for Health,<br />
Third Sector and Housing Strategy,<br />
said, “Swimming is a great way<br />
to keep active and stay healthy.<br />
This scheme will reduce the<br />
project with my Hartsholme group<br />
and I have been very lucky to have<br />
such a good relationship with the<br />
young people.”<br />
Work on the garden, which had<br />
been vandalised in recent years,<br />
started in March 2009, with the<br />
help of the Partnership Project<br />
– Ground Work <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>,<br />
an environmental development<br />
charity. The garden has since been<br />
transformed into an area that all<br />
members of the local community<br />
can enjoy.<br />
cost of swimming for the whole<br />
family allowing even more<br />
people to have fun.”<br />
“We want as many people in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> to take up this offer<br />
so check out details at your local<br />
pool.”<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council is<br />
working with the <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Sports<br />
Partnership and Lincoln University<br />
to evaluate the project.<br />
For more information please<br />
contact the <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Sports<br />
Partnership on:<br />
t. 01522 585580<br />
e. office@lincolnshiresports.co.uk<br />
Thanks to the determination of the<br />
young people involved, a £17,000<br />
grant was secured to help fund the<br />
work.<br />
An open event was held at the<br />
garden in July 2009 to celebrate the<br />
group’s achievement.<br />
For more information please contact:<br />
Sharon Rideout, Youth Development<br />
Worker, <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council,<br />
on:<br />
t. 01522 875451<br />
e. sharon.rideout@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
Participating pools include:<br />
Geoff Moulder Leisure Pool<br />
Complex, Boston<br />
Embassy Swimming Pool,<br />
Skegness<br />
Jubilee Park Swimming Pool,<br />
Woodhall Spa<br />
Louth Swimming Pool<br />
Horncastle Swimming Pool<br />
Yarborough Leisure Centre,<br />
Lincoln<br />
The Priory City Academy, Lincoln<br />
North Kesteven Centre, North<br />
Hykeham<br />
Sleaford Leisure Centre<br />
Castle Sports Complex, Spalding<br />
Grantham Meres Leisure Centre<br />
Bourne Leisure Centre<br />
Deepings Leisure Centre<br />
Stamford Leisure Centre<br />
West Lindsey Leisure Centre,<br />
Gainsborough<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 14
<strong>Family</strong> Learning celebrates 10 years!<br />
<strong>Family</strong> Learning programmes were<br />
first introduced in three schools<br />
in Lincoln, Skegness and South<br />
Holland in 1999, working with<br />
parents and carers of 24 families.<br />
Since then, <strong>Family</strong> Learning in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> has been so successful<br />
that in 2008/09, over 170<br />
programmes were delivered in<br />
schools, libraries and Children’s<br />
Centres, involving over 800 parents<br />
and carers.<br />
<strong>Family</strong> Learning provides<br />
opportunities for families including<br />
children, parents, carers,<br />
grandparents to learn together<br />
in order to raise skills across<br />
generations.<br />
The programmes enable families<br />
to learn in a relaxed and fun<br />
atmosphere, and pick up ideas<br />
to reinforce learning at home.<br />
Courses can often be the first step<br />
towards further adult learning and<br />
training opportunities, or gaining a<br />
job.<br />
A parent who has taken part<br />
said, “I enjoyed the course and<br />
would like to do more courses<br />
in the future. This has helped<br />
my with my confidence and I<br />
now enjoy time alone as well as<br />
being a wife and mother. Thank<br />
you.”<br />
15 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
“Children whose parents support<br />
their learning and take a keen<br />
interest in their education do<br />
better at school and in later life”<br />
(DfES, 2004 Delivering Skills for<br />
Life)<br />
“<strong>Family</strong> Learning can have wide<br />
cost benefits: impact on health,<br />
family relations, lifelong learning<br />
and active citizenship” (<strong>Family</strong><br />
Learning, Agenda for Action,<br />
Campaign for Learning, 2004)<br />
The programmes help adults to gain<br />
the confidence to provide vital help<br />
for their children, and also help to<br />
promote good relationships within<br />
families.<br />
Another parent said, “I liked<br />
working with Sam and he<br />
really enjoyed it. He loved the<br />
crafts and I enjoyed being with<br />
him more. I think it has made<br />
a difference to his learning<br />
because it’s more one on one<br />
and he needed that extra help.<br />
I felt I made a difference to his<br />
early year’s learning.”<br />
<strong>Family</strong> Learning in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>, 2009/10<br />
<strong>Family</strong> Learning, in partnership with<br />
schools, libraries and Children’s<br />
Centres selected will be delivering<br />
a wide variety of activity-based<br />
programmes to provide parents<br />
with skills to support their children,<br />
support national initiatives and<br />
meet the five Every Child Matters<br />
outcomes.<br />
Programmes will include <strong>Family</strong><br />
Literacy, <strong>Family</strong> Numeracy, Keeping<br />
up with the Children Literacy,<br />
Numeracy, ICT, Learning through<br />
Play, Play and Language, Healthy<br />
Living, <strong>Family</strong> Finance, <strong>Family</strong> Arts<br />
and Crafts, <strong>Family</strong> Make do and<br />
Mend.<br />
For more information on working<br />
in partnership with <strong>Family</strong> Learning<br />
contact Thea Croxall, Direct Delivery<br />
Manager - <strong>Family</strong> Learning on:<br />
e. Thea.croxall@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
m. 07789 982248
Max Respect<br />
A county council initiative is<br />
promoting safe travel for children<br />
travelling to and from school on<br />
public transport.<br />
A Max Respect officer now visits<br />
schools, advising pupils on how<br />
to behave and stay safe on school<br />
transport. The Transport <strong>Services</strong><br />
Group is involved in running<br />
competitions to promote safety<br />
on school transport, teaching bus<br />
and taxi drivers pupil management<br />
techniques and ensuring they are<br />
aware of how to report incidents<br />
that may occur on school transport.<br />
The group also works with the<br />
police and other organisations to<br />
tackle anti-social behaviour on<br />
buses.<br />
Their most recent competition<br />
asked children to design a poster<br />
promoting Max Respect. Over 740<br />
entries were received from primary<br />
and secondary schools across the<br />
county.<br />
In recent years, the initiative<br />
has achieved great success in<br />
reducing problems with behaviour<br />
on taxis and buses and has<br />
received widespread acclaim for<br />
its contribution to child safety in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>.<br />
The Max Respect vision is that in the<br />
near future we can achieve a school<br />
transport service that is enjoyed and<br />
respected by the children who use<br />
it, and operated safely by the people<br />
who run it.<br />
For more information about Max<br />
Respect please contact:<br />
Teri Marshall, Principal Transport<br />
Officer, on:<br />
t. 01522 553440<br />
e. teri.marshall@lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>’s Birth to <strong>Five</strong><br />
Service has been recognised<br />
for its outstanding work by<br />
scooping the Nursery World<br />
national award for Local<br />
Authority Early Years Team of the<br />
Year.<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> was selected from a<br />
final list of six local authorities to<br />
celebrate the best in the early years<br />
sector and childcare services.<br />
The Birth to <strong>Five</strong> Service launched<br />
its own website in September for<br />
practitioners working in early years<br />
settings in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>.<br />
It has also focused on the important<br />
issue of smooth transition and has<br />
developed local authority guidance<br />
for all teachers to ensure continuity<br />
for children going from Reception<br />
to Year One.<br />
Teachers in the county can take<br />
advantage of a comprehensive<br />
resource package based on the<br />
outcomes of a number of pilot<br />
projects run by the Birth to <strong>Five</strong><br />
Service. This includes a puppet<br />
called Louis, which is used to<br />
Members of the Birth to <strong>Five</strong> Service Team<br />
enjoying a night out to collect their Nursery<br />
World Award.<br />
Early Years Team<br />
wins national<br />
award<br />
support children’s social and<br />
emotional development during<br />
transitions. (See photo above).<br />
Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell,<br />
Executive Councillor for Children’s<br />
<strong>Services</strong>, said,<br />
“We are very proud to be<br />
acknowledged by Nursery<br />
World as one of the best local<br />
authority Early Years teams<br />
and this reflects the first class<br />
provision for young children.<br />
The award is testament to<br />
the great team of people who<br />
work incredibly hard to support<br />
early years providers and the<br />
children in their care, across<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>.”<br />
For more information please<br />
contact Stephanie Douglas, Head<br />
of Service, Birth to <strong>Five</strong> on:<br />
t. 01522 587584<br />
e. steph.douglas@cfbt.com<br />
or visit:<br />
www.birthtofive.org.uk<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 16
Support for children of<br />
the Chernobyl disaster<br />
North Hykeham Youth<br />
Centre offered their support<br />
to children affected by the<br />
Chernobyl disaster by<br />
inviting them to experience<br />
life in the UK.<br />
Members of the youth centre<br />
welcomed the children,<br />
supported by the Chernobyl<br />
Children’s Life Line, to join them<br />
in an evening of fun and activities<br />
- this included putting on a dance<br />
performance, involving them<br />
in a football tournament and<br />
challenging them to a dance dual<br />
on the play station dance mat.<br />
Chernobyl Children Life Line<br />
has brought child victims of the<br />
Chernobyl disaster to the UK for<br />
recuperative one month breaks<br />
since 1992. A total of 46,000<br />
young people have benefited<br />
from this project.<br />
Susan Kenyon from the<br />
Chernobyl Children Life Line<br />
(CCLL) has been running the<br />
charity for 16 years and has<br />
been bringing children over<br />
from Ukraine for five years.<br />
The children spend a month in<br />
England with families in Lincoln.<br />
17 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
Susan said, “We get a<br />
tremendous amount of<br />
support from the community<br />
whose fundraising helps to<br />
pay for the children’s air fares.<br />
“While they are here the<br />
children visit the dentist<br />
and the opticians for health<br />
checks and they have the<br />
opportunity to enjoy a visit<br />
to Butlins for a short break as<br />
well as visiting farms and local<br />
attractions.”<br />
North Hykeham Youth Centre<br />
hopes to carry out more fundraising<br />
to support the project.<br />
For more information or to<br />
get involved with the work<br />
of Chernobyl Children’s Life<br />
Line please contact Katrina<br />
Thurlow, Youth Development<br />
Worker, North Hykeham<br />
Youth Centre, on:<br />
t. 01522 680034<br />
e. katrina.thurlow@<br />
lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
Young Person’s<br />
Drink Debate<br />
and DVD launch<br />
Young people in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> had their<br />
say on the positive and negative effects of<br />
drinking alcohol at a Young Person’s Alcohol<br />
Debate Conference on 26th October.<br />
The conference is part of the ‘Drink<br />
Debate’ which will be launched across the<br />
county to allow members of the public and<br />
partners to have their say on <strong>Lincolnshire</strong>’s<br />
relationship with alcohol.<br />
Over 100 young people were invited to<br />
the conference, held at the Belton Woods<br />
Hotel.<br />
Chris Avis, Alcohol Reduction Coordinator,<br />
said, “With a growing number of young<br />
people suffering from liver disease due to<br />
the effects of alcohol misuse and nearly<br />
three-quarters of young people feeling<br />
that alcohol makes them feel more<br />
outgoing and relaxed, we thought it was<br />
important to find out what young people in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> think.”<br />
Alcohol can be associated with celebrations<br />
and good times. However alcohol misuse<br />
is increasingly being linked to drunken<br />
violence and becoming more responsible<br />
for pressures on many local services<br />
including hospital departments.<br />
During the conference, a new interactive<br />
DVD and resource pack was also<br />
showcased. The DVD, called “One Friday<br />
Night,” deals with the issues surrounding<br />
young people and alcohol misuse and<br />
will be available in October, free, for all<br />
agencies who work with young people in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>.<br />
For more information about the young<br />
person’s drink debate or the new alcohol<br />
harm DVD in <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> please contact<br />
Chris Avis, Alcohol Reduction Coordinator:<br />
t. 01522 554508<br />
e. chris.avis@lincolnshire.gov.uk
New minibuses for 14-19<br />
local partnerships<br />
Seven local partnerships in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> are to receive<br />
minibuses to transport pupils<br />
aged 14 to 19 with learning<br />
difficulties to specialist<br />
facilities across the county.<br />
The seven partnerships cover<br />
large geographical areas where<br />
learners have significant distances<br />
to travel between centres.<br />
Gareth Maddison, 14 - 19<br />
Transport Co-ordinator, said:<br />
“We have purchased minibuses<br />
to be able to move learners<br />
across local partnerships to<br />
access specialist facilities. “<br />
“We recognise that one solution<br />
will not be appropriate across<br />
all areas of the county, therefore<br />
several trials are underway in<br />
order to determine the most<br />
effective solutions.”<br />
Strategies considered include:<br />
• Enabling students to form a<br />
consortium which will<br />
determine the use of<br />
vehicles to access their<br />
curriculum activities<br />
• Enhanced Call Connect<br />
facilities and consideration of<br />
a School Connect facility<br />
• Engaging with local industry<br />
where employers could<br />
provide a driver/contribution.<br />
In return this would enable<br />
them to use the vehicle<br />
for their workers’<br />
journeys<br />
• Links with adult social care<br />
requirements<br />
• Transport <strong>Services</strong> Group<br />
organise and let schools/<br />
colleges bid for the journeys<br />
to be undertaken.<br />
Gareth added, “The major<br />
impact we expect will be<br />
in relation to reducing<br />
travel time for learners<br />
and increasing participation<br />
and attainment. It will also<br />
increase the flexibility of<br />
transport arrangements.”<br />
For more information please<br />
contact Gareth Maddison, 14 -<br />
19 Transport Co-ordinator on:<br />
t. 01522 553156<br />
e. gareth.maddison@<br />
lincolnshire.gov.uk<br />
Big Toddle,<br />
Big Fun!<br />
If you work with children under five, then<br />
the Barnardo’s Big Toddle 2010 is for you!<br />
Whether you are a nursery, an early years<br />
group or a childminder, you can join in the Big<br />
Toddle - a small sponsored walk for children<br />
under five.<br />
Last year almost 500,000 toddlers and more<br />
than 10,000 groups registered to take part.<br />
All the money raised by Big Toddlers goes to<br />
locally-based Barnardo’s projects for children<br />
under five throughout the UK. It’s all about<br />
children helping children. The children’s charity<br />
works with vulnerable and disadvantaged<br />
children and their families and supports children<br />
affected by poverty, homelessness, disability,<br />
bereavement and abuse.<br />
All nurseries and other early years groups that<br />
take part can benefit as they can keep 25%<br />
of the money raised to help buy materials<br />
and books, or perhaps to subsidise a trip.<br />
The event also helps children achieve core<br />
curriculum goals.<br />
Barnado’s is once more looking for groups and<br />
individuals to take part with their toddlers for<br />
2010. To add to the fun, this year has a pirate’s<br />
theme! You can organise your own ‘toddle’ or<br />
take part in an organised event. Most toddles<br />
will take place in June or July, but you can<br />
organise your walk whenever suits you.<br />
How to find out more, or register online<br />
visit www.bigtoddle.co.uk<br />
t. 0845 270 9900<br />
<strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009 | 18
Pass It On . . . We’ve moved! Meet 4all!<br />
The <strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Tackling Teenage<br />
Pregnancy Team has moved!<br />
Contact us on our new numbers if<br />
you want help to improve sex and<br />
relationships education, improve<br />
sexual health services for young<br />
people, support teenage parents<br />
or support our information and<br />
communications work.<br />
Jenny Milne, Secretary<br />
t. 01522 55 55 23<br />
Jan Lowis, Project Manager<br />
t. 01522 55 55 20<br />
Marie Jarrett, Health Manager<br />
t. 01522 55 55 29<br />
Carol Goodyear,<br />
Project Support Manager<br />
t. 01522 55 55 19<br />
Or fax 01522 68 96 29<br />
Contacts<br />
Action for Children<br />
www.actionforchildren.org.uk<br />
t. 01522 546516<br />
Aimhigher<br />
www.aimhigher-lr.co.uk<br />
t. 01522 583748<br />
Better Caring<br />
www.bettercaring.com<br />
Birth to <strong>Five</strong> Service<br />
www.birthtofive.org.uk<br />
t. 01522 587570<br />
Book Start<br />
www.bookstart.co.uk<br />
Childcare Link<br />
www.childcarelink.gov.uk<br />
Children’s Centres<br />
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/childrenscentres<br />
t. 0800 1951635<br />
Children’s Links<br />
www.childrenslinks.org.uk<br />
t. 0845 3730645<br />
City of Lincoln Council<br />
t. 01522 881188<br />
Connexions<br />
www.c4yp.co.uk<br />
Connexions Learning Line<br />
t. 0800 163026<br />
Customer Service Centre,<br />
Childrens Team<br />
t. 01522 782111 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm)<br />
Out of hours Emergency Duty Team - for social<br />
work emergencies only 5pm - 8.45am<br />
t. 01522 782333<br />
19 | <strong>Take</strong> 5 | Winter 2009<br />
Our email addresses haven’t changed<br />
and follow the usual lincolnshire.gov.<br />
uk format.<br />
To write to us, please send it via the<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council courier or<br />
in the post to:<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Tackling Teenage<br />
Pregnancy Team<br />
West Area Youth Office<br />
76 Hemswell Avenue<br />
Hartsholme Estate<br />
LINCOLN<br />
LN6 0AZ<br />
However, the NHS Courier doesn’t<br />
reach us anymore.<br />
We look forward to hearing from you.<br />
Department for Children, Schools and<br />
Families (DCSF)<br />
www.dcsf.gov.uk<br />
Department of health<br />
www.dh.gov.uk<br />
Every Child Matters (national)<br />
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk<br />
Extended Provision<br />
Has moved from 13 to 15 The Avenue,<br />
Lincoln LN1 1PA<br />
t. 01522 553400<br />
<strong>Family</strong> Information Service<br />
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fis<br />
t. 0800 1951635<br />
<strong>Family</strong> Service Directory<br />
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/fsd<br />
Grantham Women’s Centre<br />
t. 01476 561131<br />
Home-Start<br />
www.home-start.org.uk<br />
t. 01522 569997<br />
JobCentre Plus<br />
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk<br />
Learing and Skills Council<br />
www.lsc.gvo.uk/regions/EastMidlands<br />
t. 0845 0194178<br />
Lincoln Woman’s Aid and Lincoln Refuge<br />
www.lincolnwomensaid.org.uk<br />
t. 01522 510041<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Women’s Centre<br />
t. 01522 576761<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Citizens Advice<br />
www.lincolncab.org.uk<br />
t. 08444 994199<br />
The Children Act Register is<br />
now called 4all, and is still a<br />
voluntary register of children<br />
and young people aged<br />
up to 19, with disabilities<br />
or additional needs in<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong>.<br />
Address is 4all, FREEPOST,<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Council<br />
Customer Service Centre, PO<br />
Box 841, Lincoln LN5 7JN.<br />
Freephone: 0800195 1635<br />
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.<br />
The Freephone number is for<br />
the <strong>Family</strong> Information Service,<br />
who takes the initial call on<br />
behalf of the 4all Coordinator.<br />
Email is still CARegister@<br />
lincolnshire.gov.uk.<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> County Childminding<br />
Association<br />
t. 01775 766171<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> NHS Childcare Team<br />
t. 01522 546546<br />
Learing Partnership NHS Trust<br />
www.lpt.nhs.uk<br />
<strong>Lincolnshire</strong> Teaching Primary Care Trust<br />
www.lpct.nhs.uk<br />
t. 01522 513355<br />
National Childminding Association<br />
www.ncma.org.uk<br />
t. 01522 868868<br />
East Midland region t. 08442 252271<br />
National Health Service<br />
www.nhs.uk<br />
Ofsted<br />
www.ofsted.gov.uk<br />
Parent Partnership <strong>Services</strong><br />
t. 01522 553351<br />
Parentline Plus<br />
www.parentlineplus.org.uk<br />
t. 0808 800 2222<br />
Pre-School Learning Alliance<br />
www.pre-school.org.uk<br />
t. 0207 76975200<br />
Samaritans<br />
www.samaritans.org<br />
t. 08457 909090<br />
Sure Start<br />
www.surestart.gov.uk<br />
Youth Advice Service Rainer <strong>Lincolnshire</strong><br />
www.raineronline.org<br />
t. 01522 529014