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A UNIQUE new class at a Penrith nurs­ery is giving babies a head start when it comes to talking.

The pioneering scheme, launched at the Safehands Greenstart Nursery, in Oak Road, involves baby sign language - helping youngsters from just a few months old upwards make sense of each word they hear.

The baby signing was delivered by Wigton mother-of-five Helen Atherton on behalf of Tiny Talk, which will be staging other special classes at the nursery in the run-up to Christmas.

Nine babies joined staff at the first class, held in the nursery’s special baby room, Safehands Greenstart manager Carrie Geider, who lives in Orton, said:

“It was amazing to see the babies react and having so much fun in a learning environment. Babies realise objects have names and, although they don’t normally learn to talk until 12 to 18 months old, baby sign language bridges that gap,”. Most popular words included milk, drink, more, eat and thank-you.

The remarkable classes are part of celebrations to relaunch the nursery, formerly known as Abacus, which has now been taken over by the Blackpool based Safehands Network, one of the UK’s leading providers of childcare and nursery education facilities. The Penrith nursery, which can cater for up to 47 youngsters and is open from 8am to 6pm five days a week, is the first eco-friendly nursery in the region.

From a very early age, youngsters are taught about conservation, environ­mental and recycling issues in a fun way and have an outdoor garden and play area where they learn to grow fruit and vegetables, much of which is then served up for them by cook Helen Middleton.

The pioneering Penrith scheme has been so successful it is to be intro­duced at other Safehands nurseries, There are also plans for a sensory gar­den and a special minibus service helping to reach parents and children in the more remote rural areas of Cumbria.

TINIES GO GREEN THANKS TO SUPERCHEF JEAN

A former school cook at Kirkham Grammar is helping young “eco-tots” eat healthily at Blackpool’s newest “supernursery”.

Farmers daughter Jean Rhodes, has been appointed head chef at the Safehands Greenstart childrens nursery, based at Blackpool Football Club and she is already encouraging the little ones and their parents to promote healthy eating, improve their lifestyle, reduce litter and waste and save energy where possible.

Nothing is frozen and everything is prepared from fresh ingredients at the eco- nursery - the first of its kind in the region catering for up to 136 youngsters. The children even have their own outdoor garden… just yards from the soccer pitch corner flag at Bloomfield Road where they grow their own fruit and vegetables including apples, carrots beans potatoes and herbs all to be served up for lunch or dinner by chef Jean from Kirkham.

“Its as green as you can get”, said Jean who is a firm believer in good old fashioned tasty and wholesome food. ”We even encourage the children to save food waste which we collect every day and which they then put on the compost heap for spreading on the garden.”

Meals, cooked fresh every day for over 90 toddlers and up to 12 Safehands staff, include beef casserole, home made soups and stews, tuna pasta bake, fish cakes,cheese and tomato wraps and salad sticks and fruit served four times a day with water and sugar free juice.

But hot traditional puddings, with custard are still a favourite and babies, from as young as four months old, are given the same tasty food pureed.

“I know youngsters are supposed to hate vegetables but they love them here” ,said Jean. ”It’s different somehow when they have grown it themselves”.

A keen fan of Jamie Oliver and his healthy eating campaign Jean says the nursery aims to keep the children well nourished and happy so they can feel even more safe and secure whilst at the same time learning about conservation, and other environmental issues in a fun way.

The pioneering nursery, which has also introduced a webcam facility for parents to keep an eye on their children up to half an hour each day, is the latest venture from Safehands, the UK’s leading quality childcare provide set up ten years ago by Fylde couple Gary and Stephanie Farrer.

“We have adopted a green approach because we believe it’s vital we engage children in such matters from a very early age”, said Stephanie. “These are the adults of tomorrow and learning to care for the planet and Mother Earth is something we want to encourage with children and their parents and make it a very real and meaningful part of the life and ethos of the nursery.”

Safehands Greenstart, which also has a holiday club and crèche facilities, is also planning a special “drop and shop” scheme to allow parents to go late night shopping in the run up to Christmas and is shortly aiming to introduce two mini buses as part of a pick up and drop off service for parents as far away as Preston ,Fleetwood , and across the Wyre and the Fylde region.

Growing Up:

Dressed as fruit and veg at Greenstart Nursery, Bloomfield Road are Lucy-Mae Cheatle (left) as a corn-on-the-cob and Boo Wright as a carrot.

Loads of fun was had by all in aid of Children in Need

A unique new class at a top Penrith nursery is giving local babies a head start when it comes to talking.

The pioneering scheme, launched this week at the Safehands Greenstart Nursery in Oak Road, involves baby sign language –helping youngsters from just a few months old upwards make sense of each word they hear.

The baby signing was delivered by Wigton mum of five Helen Atherton on behalf of Tiny Talk who will be staging other special classes at the nursery in the run up to Christmas.

Nine babies joined staff in the first class held in the nursery’special baby room.

Safehands Greenstart manager Carrie Gelder who lives in Orton, said:” It was amazing to see the babies’ react and having so much fun in a learning environment. Babies realise objects have names and though they don’t normally learn to talk until 12 to 18 months old, baby sign language bridges that gap”. Most popular words included milk, drink, more, eat and thank you.

The remarkable classes are part of celebrations to relaunch the nursery, formerly known locally as Abacus, which has now been taken over by the Blackpool based Safehands network one of the UK’s leading providers of quality childcare and nursery education facilities. The Penrith nursery, which can cater for up to 47 youngsters and is open from 8 am to 6pm five days a week, is the first eco friendly nursery in the region.

From a very early age youngsters are taught about conservation, environmental and recycling issues in a fun way and have a huge outdoor garden and play area where they learn to grow fruit and vegetables much of which is then served up for them by cook Helen Middleton.

The pioneering Penrith scheme has been so successful it is set to be introduced at other Safehands nurseries. There are also plans for a sensory garden and a special Safehands Greenstart minibus service helping to reach parents and children in the more remote rural areas of Cumbria.

“These are exciting times and its really what local parents deserve”, said Carrie. ”We aim to provide the very best service in a safe, secure and friendly environment.”

Other events lined up at the nursery include a Children in Need fund-raiser later this month, a visit by the local traffic police on November 21st to help youngsters learn about people who help in the community, and a Xmas entertainment for all the family at the nursery on December 19th.

Anyone interested in these events or the baby sign classes should contact Carrie at Safehands Greenstart Nursery .Tel:01768 868327.

It is a day most Parents will remember forever, clutching a handkerchief and fighting back the lump in their throat, few can forget the anguish as they take their little one to nursery for the first time.
The pain of pre-school separation is about to be lessened for parents at one Blackpool nursery however.

Little ones beware – Mum and Dad are going to be watching you! by logging on to a special website.
The new system is the first of its kind in Blackpool and is due to be launched next week.
And the scheme has got resounding thumbs up from Parents who will be able to keep a much closer eye on their children from the workplace or home.
Davinia Connell Squire’s two year old daughter Elise goes to the nursery while she works full-time as a medical secretary at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
Mrs Connell Squire, 28, of North Drive, Thornton, said, “I think the cameras are a brilliant idea. I’ve often thought it would be nice to watch Elise play without her knowing I’m there. Soon, I will be able to. I especially think it will be good for new Mums who are anxious about leaving their children-it is a good way to put their minds at rest.”

According to a recent survey, half of all British Mums would prefer to stay at home and look after their children if they could afford to do so. The cameras are seen as an inventive way of letting them have the best of both worlds.

Security is a high priority for the nursery as they launch the site. All live images are encrypted and access will only be available to parents using passwords.

Louisa Bamber, of Linderbreck Lane, Poulton, whose two-year-old son Harrison is also a pupil of Safehands, added: “I was a bit concerned about the idea of the children being on the internet, but the nursery has been quite reassuring about security. I think it will give new Mums some added peace of mind because it is hard when you first start leaving your child at the nursery”

Nursery bosses think the new system will be a benefit to parents.

Managing director Gary Farrer said: “Since Safehands took over the nursery about six weeks ago we have been very keen to bring it bang up to date – new technology is part of this. We’ve been very selective of the system we have chosen to ensure that security of the site is watertight. I really think Parents will feel the benefit of the system, it’s a good way to keep tabs on their children’s development. It is a very exciting time.”

 

Published on 11th Oct 2007, Blackpool Gazette by Lisa Ettridge