Salford’s fostering programme has been praised for its commitment and dedication to making positive changes to the lives of young people, in a visit to Salford by a top government minister.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Parliamentary Under Secretary for children in care, fostering and adoption, visited staff, carers and young people being fostered through the 3D treatment fostering programme.

“I really enjoyed my visit to Salford and having the opportunity to talk to a young person and her foster carer about their experiences, ” said Baroness Morgan.

“It was fantastic to be able to talk to Salford’s team and learn about their experiences within the team and hopes for the future. I was really impressed by the commitment and dedication of all those involved.”

The 3D foster service, so called because it provides a full spectrum of support to both the child and the foster carer,had been recommended to Baroness Morgan as a good example of this kind of specialised fostering. 3D fostering provides round the clock intensive support to both the child and the carer – with involvement from therapists, education officers and social workers.

Mary,one of Salford’s foster carers who met Baroness Morgan, became a full time single professional foster carer after seeing an advert by the council.

“I had thought of fostering before, but wasn’t able to because of work commitments as I needed to have an income. The financial support I receive as a full time professional foster carer means I have been able to stop work and can devote all my time to the child I look after.

I like the fact that you are given support 24/7 from the service, including therapists, social workers and education officers. You also get a call every morning from the team to see how things are going – so you never feel that you are on your own.

Becoming a foster carer has been a wonderful experience for me. Knowing that I am helping to create a better future for a young person in Salford is very rewarding and I would recommend it to anyone who feels they have something to offer.”

3D Fostering is a brand new project in Salford’s fostering service. It aims to provide short term foster placements to young people with complex needs between the ages of 10 and 16. The 3D foster carers will receive a generous fee starting from £22,022 plus 24/7 support.

It is the season of good will and Salford’s Sure Start Children’s Centres are throwing open their doors to welcome families to their Christmas and Chanukah parties from Monday 14 December to Friday 18 December. Salford’s parents, guardians and carers are invited in from the cold to take part in the festivities and discover more about their local centre.

Hershel Weiss Children and Family Centre, a satellite of Higher Broughton Children’s Centre is bringing the community together to share the Jewish festival of Chanukah.

The opening times to the public are:

Sunday 13 December: 1.00pm – 4.oopm

Monday 14 December: 5.30pm – 8.00pm

Tuesday 15 December (Chanukah delights): 8.00pm – 9.30pm (for girls aged 10-16 years only, pre-booking is essential)

Wednesday 16 December: 5.30pm – 7.00pm

Thursday 17 December: 2.00pm – 4.00pm and 5.30pm – 8.00pm

Entrance is £3 per person which includes four different activities and the film.

Call the centre on Northumberland Street, Higher Broughton on 0161 778 0071.

The eight-day, 2,000-year-old holiday, also called the Festival of Lights, celebrates an ancient victory of the Jews, and the freedom Jews enjoy today. The centre, which offers culturally appropriate services for the Jewish community, is transforming itself into a Chanukah World for the whole week. Children and families can walk into the Chanukah ‘cave’ where you will see children playing Dreidel, enter the ‘snow wonderland’, and see Chanukah in the snow. They can also watch a film about the story of Chanukah and after the film design a Menorah, make a delicious doughnut or press some Olives to make oil for a Chanukah light. For parents with children under five Father Christmas will be visiting our Sure Start Children’s Centres at Christmas parties right across the city. These are:

Summerville Children’s Centre: Monday

Lark Hill

Mossfield

14 December 10.00am -12.30pmChildren’s Centre: Monday 14 December 10.30am – 12 noon Children’s Centre: Monday 14 December 1.00pm – 3.00pmEccles Children’s Centre: Tuesday 15 December 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Little Hulton Children’s Centre: Tuesday 15

Cadishead Children’s Centre: Wednesday 16

Summerville Children’s Centre: Wednesday 16

December 10.00am – 3.00pmDecember 11.00am – 1.00pm, December Trip to Gulliver’s World, 9.15am – 2.30pmFiddlers Lane Children’s Centre: Wednesday 16

Swinton Moorside Children’s Centre: Thursday 17

Primrose Hill Children’s Centre: Thursday 17

Fiddlers Lane Children’s Centre: Thursday 17

Higher Broughton Children’s Centre: Thursday 17 December. 11.30am – 2.30pm

Summerville Children’s Centre: Friday 18

December 1.00pm – 3.00pmDecember 1.00pm – 3.00pmDecember 10.00am – 12.00 noonDecember 11.00am – 1.00pm December 10.00am -12.30pmSt Paul’s Heathside Children’s Centre: Friday 18

Belvedere Children’s Centre and Lower Broughton Children’s Centre: Wednesday 23

To find your nearest centre call Salford Family Information Service on freephone 0800 195 5565.

Sure Start Children’s Centres are places which offer children under five and their families information and help from teams of professionals, such as health visitors, family support workers, early educators and Job centre Plus. There are 19 Sure Start Children’s Centres across Salford, which offer the following:

Registered childcare

Play opportunities and early learning

Antenatal and postnatal health services

Parenting advice and family support

Employment, training and job seeking advice

Childminder networks

Lots of fun activities and the chance to meet other parents

Councillor John Warmisham, Lead member for Children’s Services

“Salford’s Sure Start Children’s Centres are committed to supporting children under fives and their families. We welcome all parents with children under five to come and enjoy themselves, to celebrate the season of good will, and to find out how the centres can help and support them.”

“The staff at Hershel Weiss have done a magnificent job in transforming their centre into a Chanukah wonderland and opening it up to the local community to share in their week long Chanukah festival. This centre is a real example of Salford City Council working closely with its communities to give them the services they want and need, and of bringing communities together. We wish them a successful and happy week for everyone who attends.”

December 10.00am – 1.00pm. December (Splash Christmas party at Clarendon Fit City pool) 12 noon – 1.00pm

The first stage of realising the city wide investment in secondary schools in Salford started today as the deal to deliver them was officially signed.

 The “financial close” stage for the city’s Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme means that all of the partners are locked in to an agreement which establishes who are the long-term providers of the programme

 Walkden and Irlam and Cadishead schools are both due to open in September 2011, marking completion of the first phase of Salford’s BSF programme.

 More new schools are planned to follow in later phases of the programme.

 The Schools Adjudicator rejected the council’s proposal to shut St George’s RC High School, a key aspect of the programme to rebuild three other Catholic schools including a new sixth form at St Ambrose Barlow.

 The decision has prompted a review of options to ensure the city’s children get the best possible investment in new schools.

 Lead member for children’s services at Salford council, Cllr John Warmisham said: “Helping our young people build better futures starts with building them better schools in which to learn.

 ”We have always said the vision for our schools had to be bold and ambitious and we remain committed to seeing it through.

 ”Financial close is the formal signature to that commitment and I am delighted that we are able to guarantee delivery of these first two schools.”

 Today’s agreement confirms that Salford and Wigan councils will work with their private sector partner, the consortium Transformational Learning Partnership, and BSF Investments to deliver the PFI project.

 The cross-boundary partnership is the first of its kind in the North West.

 The TLP consortium, which consists of HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions, HOCHTIEF Facility Management, Laing O’Rourke and RM Education, will be charged with designing, building and refurbishing more than 20 new and existing schools across the two authorities.

 Tim Byles, chief executive of Partnerships for Schools, the government agency responsible for delivering the BSF programme, said: “I am delighted that Salford and Wigan have reached financial close – as one of only a handful of joint Local Education Partnerships, reaching this milestone is a testament to the successes of the close partnership working between Salford and Wigan so far.

“I look forward to charting the progress of these authorities as they work together to deliver 21st century schools for pupils, teachers and local communities.

“Building Schools for the Future has now achieved 47 Financial Closes over the period of the national programme, demonstrating that work to transform schools across England is moving forward with great momentum.”

Wigan council’s cabinet champion for Children and Young People’s Services, Cllr Susan Loudon said: “From the very beginning we have been committed to making the most of this opportunity and providing a fantastic modern standard of education in world-class facilities for our children and young people.

“The world is changing rapidly and we have realised that we have to make sure that our children and young people can compete for jobs and opportunities on a global scale and today’s decision means we really can begin to build schools for the future.”

Jane Barber, Chief Executive of HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions UK,said: the financial close of this first phase of the Salford & Wigan BSF project marks a major milestone for ourselves and our partner Laing O’Rourke plc. We have worked closely with both councils to develop a partnership for the delivery of their BSF programme and look forward to cementing that relationship over the coming years.

Salford’s BSF proposal had promised a £182 million investment across all the city’s high schools over the next five years.

 Planners approved the designs for Irlam and Cadishead and Walkden in September.

 At Walkden they promise an atrium for presentations, dining, studying and socialising with a courtyard outside.

 At Irlam and Cadishead there will be similar spaces as well a new neighbourhood office with community services.

 Both schools will be equipped with the latest information technology, inside and outside classrooms and a range of facilities for drama and sports including all weather pitches.

 The BSF programme aims to boost opportunities in schools for pupils, parents, funding top facilities, transforming teaching and learning and improving the community use of schools.

 It is primarily funded by central government with contributions from Salford City Council.

– and secures building of the first two schools.

Dear All,

As the Chair of the Seedley & Langworthy events group, I am inviting you all to all a Carol service in Chimney Pot Park on Tuesday 15^th December from 3.45pm. There will be some readings, carols and local primary school choirs to add a bit of festive cheer … we will serve warm refreshments (Bovril and mince pies!) in the Cornerstone afterwards from 4.30pm.

It would be lovely if you are able to make it .. please feel free to bring friends & family. Please wrap up warm, from previous experience it’s a

cold ‘un!

Kind regards,

Lorna

St Thomas of Canterbury R.C. Primary School in Salford has this week been rated ‘most improved school’ in England in the national key stage 2 tables.

 St Thomas’ was placed in special measures just over three years ago. However following the appointment of a new headteacher David Deane, in January 2007, the whole school community has worked tirelessly to overcome barriers to learning and improved year on year.

 David believes the school’s achievements are due to the hard work of all the children and staff, the school’s commitment to working in

partnership with parents and the support of the council and Salford Diocese.

 “Our school has a fantastic team of talented and dedicated teachers and classroom assistants, who have the highest expectations of what all children can achieve.

 We never give up on any child and ensure that learning is personalised in order to meet the needs of all children, including those in groups who might not otherwise thrive,” said David.

 The school is looking forward to becoming even better in the future, for example, by working in partnership with the Greater Manchester Challenge to become a centre of excellence for children with English as an Additional Language.

 Councillor John Warmisham, lead member for children’s services, said: “It is great to see that all the hard work by the staff, parents and children at St Thomas of Canterbury has been recognised nationally.

Across Salford key stage 2 standards in schools are continually improving. This year the city’s average scores in KS2 (level 4+) English, maths and science have achieved or exceeded the national averages, which is fantastic news.”

 Salford’s average KS2 level 4+ results:

English – Salford 81%, national average 80%

Maths – Salford 80%, national average 79%

Science – Salford 88%, national average 88%

 Salford also achieved 1% above the national average for the amount of pupils reaching KS2 level 4+ in both English and maths. (Salford – 73%, national average 72%)