Tisbury Children’s Centre Newsletter
A Children’s Centre for Tisbury and the surrounding villages
Many of you will have followed the local debate about the site of the proposed Children’s Centre. At a public meeting in September three proposals were put forward: a new building on a plot near St John’s Primary School, the old Magistrates Court or move into the social services building due to be vacated in November on part of the old Nadder School site. At October’s Area Board meeting the community’s preferred option of the social services building was approved and work is now being undertaken by Wiltshire Council to draw up proposals for minor adaptations in order to make the building suitable for young children and their families. Some of the building will continue to be used by the social services team.
These are exciting times and it is hoped that the building will be ready for the newly appointed staff team to move into early in 2010. However, staff are not waiting for the new building before starting work. Activities currently taking place are listed below.
What is a Children’s Centre and what area will the Tisbury one serve?
Children’s Centres have developed from a nationwide Government programme called Sure Start. The Government’s aim is to have a Sure Start Children’s Centre serving every community by 2010. Children’s Centres serve children and their families from the ante-natal period up until the children start primary school. They are a one stop shop for information, support and advice; offering a range of services to families with children under 5 years old and working very closely with other professionals such as health visitors, GPs, speech and language therapists, pre-school staff and primary schools. A more detailed list of the sort of things Tisbury Children’s Centre could offer will be included in the next newsletter.
Although the centre will be based in Tisbury, the work will reach out to the surrounding villages. These include Donhead St Mary, Donhead St Andrew, Ludwell, Ansty, Swallowcliffe, Sutton Mandeville, Fovant, Wardour, Berwick St John, Alvediston, Tollard Royal and villages in between. We can bring our services and activities out to your village and will be consulting with people in these areas in the near future. Of course villagers are very welcome to come to the sessions in Tisbury too.
For further details you can contact Eileen Brocklehurst, the Centre Co-ordinator on 01722 411178, or by email at eileen.brocklehurst@actionforchildren.org.uk
Activities currently being held
Stay and Play Monday mornings in term time. These are held in Tisbury’s Elizabeth Hall from 9:30 to 11:30. There is no charge to attend and adults with their children up to 5 years old can come on a drop in basis. Childminders, mums, dads, grannies, granddads, uncles, aunts – all are welcome.
Fun with Food This enjoyable programme is also free and is being run by Wiltshire Council’s Family Learning Team. A‘taster’ session is being held in Tisbury’s Methodist Hall on 1st December from 1 to 3pm. The 6 week programme will then start on 12th January (same time, same venue). Come along to the taster session with your pre-school child to find out what it’s all about. Places on this the event are free but must be booked so that we know how much food to buy.
To book a place you can collect a form from Tisbury Library, or telephone or email Eileen, the Centre Co-ordinator (details above).