Wokingham

Services for the Wokingham district’s under-fives are really beginning to take root as the district’s state-of-the art family centre celebrates its official launch on Monday November 21.

And to commemorate the official opening, a tree - donated by the proprietors of Heartwood Tree Specialists Oliver Ward and Richard Clarke - will be planted by Wokingham District Council chairman Cllr Iain Brown and the Rt Hon Theresa May MP, shadow secretary of state for the family, culture, media and sports. They will be joined by over 100 children and 60 guests to mark the occasion.

The Ambleside Centre in Woodley, spearheaded by Wokingham District Council, brings together childcare, education and services to meet social care and health needs for children aged under five. It opened its doors in September 2004 and has gone from strength-to-strength since then, making it more straightforward for young children and their parents to get the information, help and support they need in one place.

Since it opened last year, the centre which at first was a nursery and then offered day care for children, has branched out further to provide the home for a whole raft of other Wokingham council, voluntary and health services for the under fives. Teams of council workers involved in areas such as special needs for the under fives and developing childcare training are based at the centre as is the children’s information centre and the district’s toy library.

One of just 107 early excellence centres across the country, the Ambleside Centre is a one-stop shop for parents, providing early education and childcare as an integrated and inclusive service. The building of the £1.5 million centre – which won around £1 million in government grant funding – started in December 2003 and was completed in the summer of 2004. Built on the site of the former Woodley Nursery School, the Wokingham district centre provides:

* The Pastures – a nursery for children aged six months to three years
* The Meadows – a nursery for children aged between three and five years
* Community room
* Meeting rooms
* Offices
* Council services for children and families in the Wokingham district
* Lend and Play Toy Library and Scrap Store
* Workforce Development Team
* Children’s Information Service
* Early Education Team

The first phase of the project saw improvements being made to the existing nursery whilst the second phase saw a two-storey extension being built along with further refurbishments to the original building being completed. A new entrance and reception area to the centre was built along with two new meeting rooms and new toilet facilities.

The main hall was refurbished and a new conservatory kitchen and dining area was also built. Internal alterations and refurbishment were carried out in existing classrooms to form day care areas that also have their own kitchen and toilet facilities.

The centre is also home to the Wokingham district council’s Children’s Information Service which provides a drop-in source of information for parents and carers on childcare and activities for children in the district to add to the service’s already successful telephone hotline on (0118) 935 2255.

Wokingham District Council’s chairman Cllr Iain Brown said: “The Ambleside Centre is a tremendous boost for parents looking for high quality childcare and early years education locally. This centre was designed to be a beacon of excellence for early years and childcare services. They show how education, care and other family support can be brought together to offer integrated and inclusive services for parents and young children all day. The council is ahead of the game on meeting the national drive to better co-ordinate children’s services.

“The success of the centre in its first year is great news for families across the district.”

Rt Hon Theresa May MP, shadow secretary of state for the family, culture, media and sports, said: “The Ambleside Centre is an excellent example of how council services can be brought together to make life easier for families. This innovative approach shows what can be achieved by putting children and parents first. Congratulations are due to all involved in putting this exciting project together and in ensuring its continuing success.”

Headteacher of the Ambleside Centre Gill Allen is delighted with the success of the first year of the centre and added: “It is a real privilege to be a part of the transformation of a traditional nursery school to a thriving learning community offering services to families and children in a coherent way. My thanks go to an ever-increasing team of practitioners who have responded to the challenge to innovate and integrate. We look forward to continuing developments of services with the children at the heart of all we do.”

Wokingham District Council ~ 21/11/2005