Page 6 - link magazine

6 WESTLEA
Long serving head moves on
Purton
:1
I
I Garden Machinery to spread talents nationally
l Tel: 0831 719962 Neil Griffiths, headteacher at Westlea Primary School for the past 12

All maintenance undertaken or 770707 (after 5pm) years, takes on a new challenge in August when he becomes Director of
a year long National Support Project created for him by the Govern-
Tree lopped • Shrubs pruned i Spares 0 Repairs 0 Servicing ment funded body the Basic Skills Agency.
Turfing Overhauls in petrol & electric
The project involves the nation-
Grass cutting New & used machinery for sale wide promotion of storysacks, a
Planting • Fencing I I initiative for which he as creator
Part exchange welcome
and Westlea School have become
Rotavator for hire
Shingle Gardens I
famous. He will work alongside
with or without operator
NO JOB Too SMALL I schools, universities, pre-school
Lawn mowing, scarifying and i
Tel: (01793) rough grass cutting, on a groups, libraries, teacher training
establishments and statutory
526571 - one off or regular basis groups who work with young chil-
dren, developing literacy initia-
tives between home and school.
The focus will be upon the im-
For your perfect garden portance of encouraging firm links
between parents and schools and
Visit your local centre highlighting the vital role that par-
ents can have as their child's first
educator, in establishing in their From its small beginnings at
GRANGE FARM NURSERIES children strong literacy skills from Westlea School, the storysack ini-
a very young age. tiative has been hugely successful
Fruit Trees, Herbaceous Perennials, Trees, Shrubs, Alpines, and enthusiastically received
Heathers, Conifers and Roses, Rockery Stones & Paving Slabs, throughout the country. Such has
Ponds & Water Features. Patients support been the interest in the concept
HUGE RANGE OF HANGING BASKETS & PATIO PLANTS AND SUMMER BEDDING PLANTS that it is now studied as part of the
English syllabus at Oxford Brookes
NEW - EASY BUILD WALLING NOW AVAILABLE
University and teacher training
Not just a Garden Centre establishments introduce story
sacks to their student teachers.
— more a gardeners' paradise . s
Interest has now extended be-
HAYDON END LANE, HAYDON WICK yond these shores and the sack
projects have been established in
the USA, Europe, Africa, Asia,
South America and Australasia.
GARDEN FENCING Neil is amazed at the rapid de-
velopment of what he describes as
AND SHEDS such a simple idea. "In my wildest
dreams I could not have imagined
SHEDS from ... 99.00 such worldwide interest in an ini-
tiative that was aimed at promot-
People registered with Ashington ing literacy in our local area."
Way doctors surgery will benefit He paid tribute to the parents at
from two new projects. Westlea School who made the first
Margaret Smith, pictured right storysacks for the project's success.
above, is a carer support worker "The concept is simple, yet sim-
with Health Matters. She meets ple ideas are often the most effec-
GATES from ... ft6.99 anybody involved in the care of tive. But the amount of imagina-
someone who is frail, elderly, disa- tion in creating the sacks is tre-
.A a
bled, or looking after a child with mendous and captures the interest
an illness or disability. She has an of child and parent. The creativity
information pack, acts as an advo- of the parents who made the sacks
cate for carers and can introduce has been an inspiration to people
them to a support group. all over the country. Jam indebted
She can be contacted on 531133. to them for their skill, enthusiasm
FENCING from... £1.99 Barbara Dixon, left above, coor- and dedication to the project."
dinates the Swindon Womens Art Clearly leaving Westlea School
Group who have been awarded after many years to tackle this new
£4,750 by the Arts for Everyone challenge will be a wrench for Neil.
lottery scheme to develop new art- "It is a time of very mixed feelings.
work on the theme of health. There Westlea School is my life and it has
will be a permanent exhibition in been a privilege to work alongside
PAVING from... 99p the surgery and Barbara would like such delightful children, highly
to hear from patients interested in committed staff and supportive
All prices include VAT. becoming involved in any kind of parents. I will miss the school very
PLUS we offer the best Quality, Price and Service available locally artistic activity. She can be con- much but relish the challenge and
tacted on 790925. experiences a national develop-
Mmety, Barnfield Road, Both agreed that their work mentproject such as this will offer.
off Great Western Way, Swindon minety could be extended as a result of "Opportunities of this nature
Tel: (01793) 486782 meeting each other for the Link don't happen very often and lin-
photo.
tend to make the very most of it."