Page 15 - link magazine

?F1^4ha4 The Link Magazine • February 2000 15

EASTER
Help the experts improve information service EGGSTRAVAGA
The Swindon Children's Information Service can now be contacted by e-mail. They are hoping this will
Lydiard Millicent
encourage group leaders to contact them with information about their club or activity to help them give
Parish Hall
a better service.
Saturday 8 April
The one-stop telephone call centre provides in- The telephone lines are open from 9.30am to 5pm
fpm to 3pm C
formation to childcarers about private and local daily. Callers outside these times can leave a message
authority schools, facilities for children with dis- on an answer machine. Adults £1, children free
abilities, childcare services and clubs for children The Link magazine apologises for publishing the FUN FOR ALL THE FAMIIL (\ 1
aged between 0 and 14. They have a number of incorrect e-mail address last month. It should be • Home-made cakes
♦ Easter bonnet competition
leaflets on related issues and are actively trying to [email protected]
♦ Raffle
build up their database of information about groups The local website is: • Find the egg competition
in the Swindon area. www.childcarelink.gov.uk/ swindon • Guess the name of the bunny/chick
• Win an Easter egg
• Refreshments + lots more
Playing the mischief in Abbey Meads National Childbirth Trust All funds raised in aid of
Little Mischiefs, a pre-nursery group set up in January to help young Nearly New Sale Lydiard Millicent Pre-School
children with the transition from being at home to starting a pre- Saturday 8 April, 11am - 1pm
school, is proving very successful. Oasis Leisure Centre
Sessions are held each Thursday from 12.45pm to 2.15pm at Abbey
Meads community school. The group is aimed at 2 to 3 year olds and To include baby, children and MONKEY
their carers and includes structured activities, singing and nursery maternity clothes, equipment, toys MAYHEM
rhyme games. For details contact Maggie Fisher on 725799. Admission 50p
Contact Amanda Heard d C ns
Open afternoon Two toddler groups on 771854 for a seller's pack ea stle Hi
Sparklers Pre-school at Peatmoor welcome children & parents and information M:: sue.
y
.: ' 1 u i ,yf+JrtF
School is holding an open session Peatmoor Playmates meet at Peat- Wanted: Good quality baby d ti , n all ,11orltd
on Friday 10 March, 1pm. moor School on Tuesdays 10am to equipment, toys, baby and
Parents and children are invited 12noon. Contact Samantha Street maternity clothes in good clean nt'.1 - nv bodkin
to drop in to meet the staff and on 872869 to join. condition to sell on a 25% ^° a s 433 8
view the facilities. Sparcells Under 5s meets on Fri- commission basis to the Swindon ery r
The pre-school has a few vacan- days 10am to 12noon in Sparcells branch of the National Childbirth ildren's
cies at present. For details, contact Social Hall. For details, call Elaine Trust - no sale no fee free mar or
Sam McGil on 877189. Jackson on 877104. The National Childbirth Trust is a registered party s pplie. c talogue
charity offering support and information in Everything yo teed for
pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood your child s party
Top marks at Ridgeway and aims to enable eve ry parent to make
informed choices.
A recent Ofsted inspection at Ridgeway Pre-school concludes that it
successfully met all the targets set by a previous inspection.
The report states that "the pre-school offers a high standard of Ridgeway Pre-School
nursery education in a bright, stimulating environment". It also finds
that the programmes for personal and social development, language, -cam_
literacy and mathematics are good and are given high priority. Inverary Road, Wroughton
Children are described as, "confident, independent learners who 53
share and take turns and are developing good relationships with adults
and their peers. Children talk enthusiastically about their lives and the q6a^ Zl C'h ld Safe, Loved & Learning
environment in which they live. The quality of teaching and assessment
promotes the desirable learning outcomes and is good. Staff are flexible
in their approach and offer a wide and interesting programme". 7 !e /e 2uah4
There are a few places available for children aged from 2 to 5. Mrs
Dawn Bailey who runs the pre-school can be contacted on 845572.
Quality education
Bright start for pre-schoolers
Bright Horizons Day Nursery staff are celebrating the results of an and childcare
Ofsted inspection, where no significant weaknesses were reported. for 2 years to
The 100 place day nursery at drenrespectandcareforeachother
Peatmoor Village Centre looks af- and the toys and equipment 5 years
ter children from 6 weeks to five around them".
years. The inspection centred on Joint managers Tracy Field and Open 50 weeks
the 24 children, aged three and Heather Russell expressed delight
four, based in the pre-school room. with the findings. Tracy said "We a year, 8am-6pm
A curriculum is followed through- are very pleased with the result of
out all the age groups. our inspection and will be con- Full range of
The report states, "programmes tinuing to maintain our high stand-
for personal and social develop- ards throughout the nursery." schedules
ment, language and literacy and The Link has been asked to cor-
mathematics are all good". It says rect an article in another publica- available
that "by the time they are five years tion. Children do not go into a For more information
old, most children are likely to corner if they do not want to par- Qualified teachers and to arrange a visit,
achieve the desirable outcomes of ticipate in an activity. Tracy said,
learning in all areas." "we allow them to make their own following the please contact
The quality of teaching is de- decisions; they can play with other Mrs D Bailey
scribed as very good. It concludes toys in the room if they prefer." nursery outcomes
that, "staff have worked hard to Bright Horizons can be contacted for learning (01793) 845572
create an environment where chil- on 887602.