Halifax Courier

Ash Green Sure Start Children’s Centre featured in the Halifax Courier!

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The Halifax Courier has featured our very own Ash Green Children’s Centre for achieving the Outstanding OfSted rating last month!

Read the feature in the Halifax Courier

Despite what has been a trying year for the Ash Green Sure Start Children’s Centre site, including the fire that affected the upper site, the centre managed to achieve the highest Ofsted rating – and rightly so!

[Excerpt from the Halifax Courier and Ofsted report]

“Highly skilled leaders and staff have superior aspirations for all families and an in-depth understanding of their unique needs.

“All children make significant progress from their starting points on entry.”

The report also said staff meticulously plan a challenging and expansive curriculum, provide excellent outdoor opportunities and inspire parents to support children’s learning.

And the report said staff give a high priority to children’s safety.

Nicola Earnshaw, Children’s Centre Manager, said “I am very proud of all the staff at Ash Green Children’s Centre.

“Their passion and hard work has paid off.”

Kevin Pearce Nursery classed Outstanding by OFSTED!

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Following the recent visit by OFSTED the Nursery Setting at Kevin Pearce Children’s centre was pronounced Outstanding, which is the highest rating an education establishment can receive.

The inspector reviewed the running of the nursery and spoke to both staff and parents. Among many things, the inspector commended the fantastic opportunities for outdoor experiences, the support for development across all the children, including those with additional needs, the positive relationships  of staff with parents, as well as the observed good work relationship within the team!

Some of the feedback received says:

“Staff provide exceptional experiences for children to connect with the natural
world. There is outstanding support In developing children’s speech and language skills. There is an exceptionally high team spirit in nursery. Staff report a high level of wellbeing.”

“Children are inspired and thrive at this nursery. Staff provide a warm, caring environment for children, and show genuine care for their wellbeing. Children are very happy and show that they feel safe and emotionally secure.”

We would like to join in congratulating the amazing staff working at Kevin Pearce Nursery for earning this achievement. Not that we needed it to know they’re awesome!

A brief overview of the inspection

On Monday 5th September, Kevin Pearce got their Ofsted notification call.
The team stayed behind after work to finalise the preparations for the 8am Ofsted inspector.

A joint observation was carried out by the centre’s manager with the inspector, then theinspector drifted between both nursery rooms and the outdoor areas speaking to all staff. Numerous external professionals spoke to the inspector about their experiences of Kevin Pearce.

The DCCM, SEYP and CEO then completed the leadership and management section, followed shortly by the inspection feedback, which one of the quiso’s joined us for.

Read all about it in the Halifax Courier!

Ofsted reports: Amazing Ofsted rating for North Halifax nursery

From Calderdale Big Band Tea Dance May 14th

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On Saturday 14th May 2022, we held our Calderdale Big Band Tea Dance Event at Arden Road Social Club. The purpose of the event was to bring people together who had experienced social isolation and loneliness over the last few years of the pandemic and to relive a classic 1940’s event.

This was an opportunity for people to socialise, dust off them old dancing shoes and have a good time. Coming together through musical nostalgia, the event offered the chance to forget about the worries, struggles and challenges we have all faced in recent years. Instead, everyone was able to experience a sense of normality as our community came together.

The event started at 1.15pm with people from across Calderdale arriving with their families, friends, and carers. Everyone was seated with the help of volunteers and staff, who then provided teas and coffees as everyone began to mingle.

 

Live music was performed by 18 members of the Calderdale Big Band who played a variety of songs and tracks from the 1940’s through the event. We were very happy to have our friends from Active Rainbow (Sophie, Eve, and Heidi) come along dressed in traditional 1940’s attire and deliver a live dance sequence for everyone to follow. This brought many people up from their chairs to join the dance instructors on the dance floor. This was a chance for people to shake them shoulders, show them jazz hands and have a great time dancing front of stage.

 

Midway through the event, afternoon tea was served by staff and volunteers which consisted of a selection of sandwiches, cakes and other nibbles. Whilst everyone was eating, our very own Rachel Swaby (Communities Programme Manager at North Halifax Partnership) introduced Staying Well. Rachel explained more about the service and presented the Staying Well Awards film on a projector screen for everyone to watch.

Once the film had finished, the Calderdale Big Band took to the stage and resumed playing their second set of songs. This brought more people to the dance floor, to enjoy another round of great hits from the 1940’s. The dance instructors led another live dance set for everyone to follow. As the event came to a close at 4.30pm, everyone left with beaming smiles, full stomachs, new friendships, and possibly slightly sore feet from all that dancing! The general feel of the event was very positive with lots of amazing feedback:

“It has made my weekend!”

“Wonderful event, thanks for organising it!”

“Keep doing what you’re doing!”

     

 

We want to take this opportunity to thank the Calderdale Big Band, Active Rainbow, NPT Team One (local PSCO’s in Calderdale), Ebonnie and James from Archway Project & Arden Road Social Club and their volunteers, our fellow Staying Well workers and North Halifax Partnership for funding the event.

For more pictures, visit Big Band Tea Dance on Staying Well

We’re featured in the Halifax Courier!

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