A Scottish Government policy to double free childcare provision has put a strain on a Borders nursery piloting the scheme.
The nursery class at Langlee Primary School has faced challenges since the pilot, to increase funded childcare hours from 600 to 1140 for all three and four-year-olds, began there last year.
Following an unannounced visit in June, the Care Inspectorate rated care and support at the nursery as good, while environment, staffing and management and leadership were labelled adequate.
However, inspectors found that the steep rise in the number of children attending, and the length of time they were being cared for, had caused difficulties, with lunchtimes particularly chaotic.
In the report, published last week, they said: “Providing lunch for a large number of children provided a significant organisational challenge and resulted in a poor experience for children.”
Inspectors also found that activities before and after lunch were affected, with children “disinterested” and “disruptive” during those times.
The report said: “Whilst we acknowledge that preparing to serve lunch to upwards of 50 children needs organisation, children should not be encouraged into one area to accommodate this process.”
The space allocated to the nursery – two playrooms and central area – was not working well, and inspectors said that play activities for children over three “needed to be significantly improved”.
They also found that there were not enough mats for younger children to sleep on, with some children sleeping on been bags or cushions, which was branded “unsafe”.
The report also highlighted a high number of accidents at the nursery, with senior staff asked to audit these to find any patterns in time, the type of accident or the children involved.
A spokesperson for Scottish Borders Council said that the council had already taken “significant steps” following the care inspectorate visit, and had addressed a number of the matters raised, such as improving lunch routines.
They added: “The council takes very seriously any recommendations made during these inspections and regularly monitors progress.
“We are confident that the matters raised in the report are being addressed and additional support will be provided to ensure good progress is achieved quickly.”
(TheSpread) – Despite winning the series championship each year, Jimmie Johnson doesn’t always finish with the most wins in a given year. Can Johnson top Kyle Busch in the wins category in the 2011 Sprint Cup Season?
Busch has been one of the top drivers in the series in recent years, as he has won at least three races in each of the last three years while Johnson has won at least three every year since 2002.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook Sportsbook.com feel like Johnson is more likely to win more races this season, as he has betting odds of -200 while Busch has odds of +147.
Johnson has been a winning machine in his career. He has won 30 races over the last four season, with a high of 10 in 2007. Over the last three years, he has had more wins than Busch in all but 2008, when Busch had an 8-7 edge.
Even when not winning, Johnson finds himself in contention more often than Busch, who is pretty hit and miss. Johnson has had at least 22 top-10 finishes in the seven seasons, while Busch has never reached that total in his career.
Johnson is the favorite due to his continued success, but Busch is always one of the top contenders to win. Johnson will very likely finish higher in the point standings, but Busch getting more wins is certainly not out of the question.
OTTAWA—The first burst of controversy from the next crop of MPs came not from a raw NDP rookie but from the party’s experienced deputy leader who said he doesn’t believe the United States has photos of Osama bin Laden’s body.
Thomas Mulcair struck a conspiracy theory note Wednesday when he told CBC TV that U.S. President Barack Obama’s version of the death of the terrorist mastermind is incomplete, if not untrue.
Thomas Mulcair, NDP deputy leader and candidate in the riding of Outremont, told CBC TV that U.S. President Barack Obama&rsquo;s version of the death of the terrorist mastermind is incomplete, if not untrue. (Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Obama said he has seen photos of bin Laden’s corpse but releasing those photos would be akin to peddling gruesome trophies. Mulcair was doubtful.
“I don’t think from what I’ve heard that those pictures exist,” Mulcair said during an appearance on Power and Politics.
“I think that if there is something that went on there, it requires a full analysis, and we have to understand whether or not there was an action where there was an action in self-defence or whether it was something that is more in the style of a direct killing. And that has to do with American law and international law as well.”
A statement from NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar said the party fully believed Obama’s version of events.
“We have no reason to doubt the veracity of President Obama’s statement,” said Dewar. “As (NDP leader) Jack Layton said the other day, we are happy the U.S. tracked down Osama bin Laden.”
Chuck Swirsky, whose energetic broadcasting style won him legions of fans over a decade here, is leaving to become the radio play-by-play voice of the Chicago Bulls.
A tireless promoter of the sport and the team, the veteran broadcaster will continue as an afternoon host on the The FAN590 radio station "for the foreseeable future" but will be in Chicago at the start of the next NBA season.
Swirsky came to Toronto a decade ago to take over the play-by-play job with a young franchise trying to establish itself in a hockey-dominated market. He became an immediate hit with his enthusiasm and willingness to interact with fans.
He's written a blog on the team's website, makes public appearances whenever he's asked and has become as synonymous with team as just about any player.
Swirsky, who lives with his wife and three children in Burlington, became a Canadian citizen earlier this season and was touted as Chuck The Canuck by the team.
Going back to Chicago is returning Swirsky to his broadcasting roots. He worked in that market for 15 years, serving as a host on the networks of the NFL Bears and MLB Cubs. He also did play-by-play at DePaul University for a decade.
"Chuck Swirsky has been a terrific play-by-play broadcaster for the Raptors, but it was his tireless dedication to the community and his direct relationship with our fans that left an indelible mark on southern Ontario and with Raptors fans across Canada," Tom Anselmi, the chief operating officer of Maple Leaf Sports said in a release.
"There are lots of good play-by-play guys out there, but only one Chuck Swirsky. He is a big loss to our organization. His passion for basketball and passion for our fans, makes him one of the game's great ambassadors. He's leaving for the right reasons, and that's to place the needs of his family at the top of his priority list. He leaves with our support, our deepest appreciation and best wishes for the future."