Page 7 - link magazine

WESTLEA 7
School PATCH room opens

A unique room at Westlea School creche and not a free for all.
full of educational toys and "A maximum of five parents
materials was officially launched with a child can come in at any
on 20 November. one time. Each will have a work
Called the PATCH room, card which they can use to mark
Parents and Their Children, it which activities they've done, and
contains a large quantity of high each piece of equipment will be
quality and expensive toys aimed colour coded to show what kind
at stimulating a child's of educational value it has."
development. It also has a range Mr Griffiths said the room will
of educational packs made by be a venue for a regular coffee
parents which are equally good morning and will also be used by
for helping children learn. parents from other parts of
Headteacher Neil Griffiths said Swindon. "For the first hour of
the room has a number of aims the morning, parents can come in
and will cater for a variety of for a cup of coffee after dropping
children. "We find that some their child into school. It'll be a Neil Griffiths shows off the Brio train set to Jane Dobson from the Social
children come into school with chance to talk to others, especially Services Department and Kath Ryder of the West Swindon Family Project
limited pre-school experience, if the weekend or the evening
poor language development and before has been rough. The OME OFFICE MAINTENANCE SERVICES
generally lots of problems. In Pinehurst neighbourhood Centre
some cases we spend up to a year will be bringing families over and • Electrical *Plumbing *Welding
going over ground which a child the Portage Scheme will use the *General Maintenance
should have covered before room as a resource for children
school. with handicaps. Tel: 831198
"We've been running "Of course children from our
workshops for parents for a long own school and the playgroup Mr R. T. Farquahar
time to help them learn about next door will be using the room."
what goes on in school and to Funding for the £3,000 PATCH
encourage them to work with room has come from school fund LOSE YOUR EXCESS POUNDS
their children on pre-school raising and donations from
activities. The PATCH room now companies, including a WITH CAMBRIDGE DIET EXTRA
offers a resource to parents. It's a substantial contribution from
THE
quiet room for working in, not a local firm PHH at Windmill Hill. Contact Your Counsellor
Rebecca Clifforde (Westlea) CãTnbr!dOe
Tiniest baby of the year on Swindon 873201
DIET

I

Choose Us First

Carla in the Special Baby Unit, from a polaroid taken by the staff for
Vanessa and Nigel For the Best Quality Take Home
A tiny baby the size of a Cindy 20 months old and needs my Food Available
Doll was born to a Westlea couple attention."
at the end of September, fifteen Ryan, Nigel and Vanessa hope
weeks early. to have Carla at home with them Fried Freshly For You -
Vanessa and Cohn Spackman in January, the month when she
are the proud parents of the was expected. Cod, Plaice, Haddock, Skate, Huss, Scampi,
smallest baby to be born at In the meantime members of Chips, Various Pies, Sausages and Chicken.
Princess Margaret Hospital this Nutkins, the parent and toddler
year. Weighing just llb Th ozs, group Vanessa attends, are busily Why not try one of our delicious
Carla had a 15% chance of knitting bonnets and clothing
survival at birth, but nine weeks which are only slightly larger than Curries for a change?
later she is breathing without the dolls clothes for the PMH special
aid of a ventilator and is very carebaby unit. They are specially Have you had one of our big beefburgers?
much part of the family. designed with openings to allow
"Although she is being looked medical equipment to be attached They're Great.
after in the Special Care Baby Unit, to the babies. They hope to make
Carla is part of our lives," said a presentation before Christmas. Open Monday - Saturday
Vanessa. "It's very difficult to • Save Cans, Save Lives - The 11.30am - 2pm; 4.30pm - 11pm
describe my feelings to anyone Link is backing the BBC Blue Peter
who has not experienced the birth programme in its campaign to re- Car Park 'A' West Swindon Centre
of a baby so very early. It's quite cycle ten million aluminium cans.
hard as we also have a son who is See page 21. TELEPHONE ORDERS WELCOME - 870455