Leapers: End of an Era

[Fuschia]

katgod Wrote:

----------------when I went to

> the Sure Start soft play sessions at Peckham Pulse

> it was always made clear to me that if someone

> more 'target' came along then I would have to

> leave.

ED Balls speech shows that Surestart centres are supposed to be for all.

[MrsP]

This is all very useful information and supports my view that sure start services should be available for everyone. It appears to me that service providers are incapable of listening to their users and are directing services without actually finding out what is needed. There are so many pre-school kids in SE22 and virtually no sure start provision, I'm sure my own experience of being sent bonkers by looking after kids is not so unusual. I urge anyone who feels they need the support of Leapers to apply for a place and lobby Sure Start Southwark.

[Fuschia]

Might be worth writing to Tessa Jowell and Ed Balls.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Preschooldevelopmentandlearning/NurseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_173054

"Children?s centres are open to all children and parents"

[katgod]

Article on this very topic from today's Times newspaper:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/rachel_sylvester/article7063095.ece

I hope the link works, it is the first time I have tried to do a link on the EDF>>>>

[Fuschia]

katgod Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Article on this very topic from today's Times

> newspaper:

> http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnist

> s/rachel_sylvester/article7063095.ece

>

> I hope the link works, it is the first time I have

> tried to do a link on the EDF>>>>

Interesting:

"Tessa Jowell, the Cabinet Office minister who helped found Sure Start, says the approach is ?in contradiction to the founding principles of Sure Start. If you want to raise a generation in which the middle-class children are as socially excluded as the poorest children, then this is the way to do it. Services only for the poor will end up as poor services.?

[Mellors]

I copied in my letter which made exactly this point to Tessa Jowell at the time the changes were made to Leapers. I got no substantive response....

[littleEDfamily]

Just to say, there's still ample space for 3 year olds on Wednesday afternoons!

[TJMP]

Mellors Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I copied in my letter which made exactly this

> point to Tessa Jowell at the time the changes were

> made to Leapers. I got no substantive

> response....

A PM was sent to Mellors on this subject on 22nd March and an email was sent on 17th February.

Tessa Jowell MP (Office)

[tallgirl]

For those of you looking in that area for a playgroup, there is an excellent drop-off pre-school from 9.15-12.15 on Monday-Friday on St Mary's Rd SE15. It takes children from 2.5 (they don't have to be potty trained) and it's only 6 pounds a day for under 3's or 3 pounds a day for 3 &4 year olds. They also cater for children with SEN.