New nursery 'making huge difference' for families
A new nursery for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) is making a huge difference, parents have said.
Gareth said his five-year-old daughter Peyton struggled when she went to a mainstream nursery at the age of two, and left after a few months.
Her development has come on significantly since she started at Dingley's Promise Cheltenham, which opened this month.
Gloucestershire County Council, which has given the charity a three-year contract, said investing in younger children will improve their chances in mainstream education.
Five year old Peyton should have started primary school last September, but she is non-verbal and has development delays.
Her parents believe she has autism and a place within a mainstream school could not be found.
Even though she does now have an Education and Health Care Plan, which sets out the extra help and funding a child needs to access education, no place could be found in a specialist school.
Gareth said Dingley's Promise has made a huge difference to his daughter, despite her only being there seven hours a week.
"If you had met Peyton six months ago, she wasn't making a lot of noise, but now she's constantly babbling, she's communicating with you a lot," he said.
Catherine McLeod, the nursery's chief executive, said spending money on Send provision for children under the age of five leads to savings in the future.
"If we can get support to children and families as early as possible, they feel more confident, they can also then thrive in a way that in the long term will save us money because we won't be spending larger amounts of money in primary and secondary schools," she said.
Dingley's run several centres across the UK, and data shows that ten years ago, 35% of children who left Dingley's went on to mainstream education.
"Through all the work we've done on inclusion it's now 70%," said Ms McLeod.
"That movement into mainstream education, when you get early intervention, is so important."
Paul McLain, cabinet member for education at Gloucestershire County Council, describes it as a "win-win".
"Getting in there early really helps. It allows the child to integrate, to hopefully go on to mainstream school. It's everything that makes a difference to that child's life, and also to the family's life."
New centre for children with special needs to open
Dingley's Promise
Gloucestershire County Council
Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
MAHA, social media further complicating parenthood
(NewsNation) — New parents have always sought advice about whether to sleep train or use formula, but the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement has raised even more questions. Initiatives backed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have filled social media feeds with polarizing topics, including questions about raw milk, unmedicated childbirth, ultraprocessed foods and vaccinations. A national poll by C.S. Mott Children's Hospital found four out of five parents with young children — from newborn to 4 years old — use social media to discuss their concerns about a range of parenting topics. 'Agroterrorism' fungus could harm US crops, livestock: Scientist Holistic pediatrician Dr. Ana Maria Temple told NewsNation that parents can honor their own values and make sound choices — if they're able to filter out the filler they find online. Rather than following thousands of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok pages and driving 'yourself insane,' Temple recommends going 'back to finding a provider with clinical expertise that can sit and work with you.' But the divisiveness on these topics goes beyond social media — it's happening on the soccer field over post-game snacks, at kids' parties over the birthday treats served and even at schools over the cleaning products used in the classroom. Doctor: Texas junk food bill a step in the right direction Temple said to keep an open mind and avoid self-criticism when absorbing all of these different suggestions and views, both online and in person. One of the MAHA movement's most prominent thought leaders, Moms Across America founder Zen Honeycutt, suggested looking for tried-and-true options from other parents. 'Our moms have tried dozens of different ways to recover our children from their health issues, and they're sharing the ones that work the best,' Honeycutt said. 'And doesn't mean that it'll work for your child, but it's something that our mothers have tried.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
27 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Women on Weight-Loss Drugs Warned of Surprise ‘Ozempic Babies'
Women taking popular weight-loss drugs have been urged to use effective contraception while taking the medication amid reports of a so-called "Ozempic babies" phenomenon. The advice was issued by the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, on Thursday. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for comment via email. Demand for weight-loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, has surged in the United States. In May 2024, a KFF Health Tracking Poll found that approximately 6 percent of American adults—about 15 million people—were using GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, either for diabetes treatment or weight loss. Some experts have cautioned that women should use effective contraception while taking these medications amid reports that they may be linked to an increase in unexpected pregnancies, The Guardian reported last May. The MHRA issued its alert after receiving 40 reports related to pregnancies while using "GLP-1 medicines," which are known by the brand names Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza. Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, which mimics the GLP-1 hormone to increase insulin, slow digestion, and suppress appetite. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which acts on an additional hormone related to blood sugar and appetite control. The MHRA warned that Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in people who are overweight. It received 26 pregnancy-related reports for Mounjaro alone. "Therefore, those taking Mounjaro who are overweight and are using an oral form of contraception are advised to also use a non-oral form of contraception," the agency said. "This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase." Hundreds of women have shared personal accounts of unplanned pregnancies while using these medications in online groups, including the Facebook group "I got pregnant on Ozempic." "My ozempic baby...I see so many posts about ozempic and asking for "stories or side effects," but I never see anyone warning about pregnancy... lol," one woman shared on Facebook. "If you don't know, I got pregnant on ozempic and so many other women have too..I was on ozempic for 6 weeks & found out I was pregnant. I was so scared, google had me frightened I would miscarry because of the ozempic. I then came across a group called 'I got pregnant on ozempic'. I started reading all of these stories about women fighting infertility and getting pregnant on ozempic." The Food and Drug Administration has not yet issued similar advisories in the United States. MHRA Chief Safety Officer Dr. Alison Cave said: "Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments. They are not a quick fix to lose weight, and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way. "Our guidance offers patients a 'one stop shop' for our up-to-date advice on how to use these powerful medicines safely. "This guidance should not be used as a substitute to reading the patient information leaflet or having a conversation with a healthcare professional as part of the prescribing process." Dr. Ilana Ressler, a reproductive endocrinologist at Illume Fertility, told Interesting Engineering on May 22: "There is this phenomenon of Ozempic what I think what's happening is women who may not have been ovulating before with the improvements that the medication is bringing on, that might be helping them to ovulate more regularly and they might be more likely to conceive while on the medication than not—so it is recommended to avoid pregnancy while taking the medication." Dr. Zuri A. Murrell, in a video on X last year: "There is nothing magical about the medicine that's in Ozempic that helps you get pregnant. But what it does is that a lot of times, when people can't, it's because of a hormone weight imbalance. "And so, when you lose weight, and sometimes when you lose weight rapidly, the hormones and the new you aren't in concert. Or they really are in concert, and guess what can happen, pregnancy. "So, it's not the Ozempic itself, it is actually the balancing out of your hormones. That means that you've lost fat, and that the body actually for you is working like it should. So just remember, Ozempic is not something that somebody takes and 'I'm pregnant.' What it does do is cause your body and hormone level to be more in sync and more likely that you can." It remains unclear whether the FDA will follow the MHRA's lead in issuing similar warnings or guidance on contraception. Related Articles Therapist Asks Who Women 'Want To Be Skinny For'-Her Theory Is Eye-OpeningThe Good Life: Weight Loss Wins, But at What Cost?How Ozempic and Other GLP-1 Drugs Are Eating Away at Body PositivityGen Z Is Leading a New Weight Loss Trend: Ozempic Microdosing 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Women on Weight-Loss Drugs Warned of Surprise 'Ozempic Babies'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Women taking popular weight-loss drugs have been urged to use effective contraception while taking the medication amid reports of a so-called "Ozempic babies" phenomenon. The advice was issued by the United Kingdom's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, on Thursday. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for comment via email. Why It Matters Demand for weight-loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, has surged in the United States. In May 2024, a KFF Health Tracking Poll found that approximately 6 percent of American adults—about 15 million people—were using GLP-1 agonists such as Ozempic, either for diabetes treatment or weight loss. Some experts have cautioned that women should use effective contraception while taking these medications amid reports that they may be linked to an increase in unexpected pregnancies, The Guardian reported last May. A person injects Ozempic into their abdomen on October 10, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. A person injects Ozempic into their abdomen on October 10, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. Steve Christo - Corbis/Corbis/Getty Images What To Know The MHRA issued its alert after receiving 40 reports related to pregnancies while using "GLP-1 medicines," which are known by the brand names Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Saxenda, and Victoza. Ozempic and Wegovy contain semaglutide, which mimics the GLP-1 hormone to increase insulin, slow digestion, and suppress appetite. Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which acts on an additional hormone related to blood sugar and appetite control. The MHRA warned that Mounjaro may reduce the effectiveness of oral contraceptives in people who are overweight. It received 26 pregnancy-related reports for Mounjaro alone. "Therefore, those taking Mounjaro who are overweight and are using an oral form of contraception are advised to also use a non-oral form of contraception," the agency said. "This only applies to those taking Mounjaro and is especially important for the four weeks after starting Mounjaro and after any dose increase." Hundreds of women have shared personal accounts of unplanned pregnancies while using these medications in online groups, including the Facebook group "I got pregnant on Ozempic." "My ozempic baby...I see so many posts about ozempic and asking for "stories or side effects," but I never see anyone warning about pregnancy... lol," one woman shared on Facebook. "If you don't know, I got pregnant on ozempic and so many other women have too..I was on ozempic for 6 weeks & found out I was pregnant. I was so scared, google had me frightened I would miscarry because of the ozempic. I then came across a group called 'I got pregnant on ozempic'. I started reading all of these stories about women fighting infertility and getting pregnant on ozempic." The Food and Drug Administration has not yet issued similar advisories in the United States. What People Are Saying MHRA Chief Safety Officer Dr. Alison Cave said: "Skinny jabs are medicines licensed to treat specific medical conditions and should not be used as aesthetic or cosmetic treatments. They are not a quick fix to lose weight, and have not been assessed to be safe when used in this way. "Our guidance offers patients a 'one stop shop' for our up-to-date advice on how to use these powerful medicines safely. "This guidance should not be used as a substitute to reading the patient information leaflet or having a conversation with a healthcare professional as part of the prescribing process." Dr. Ilana Ressler, a reproductive endocrinologist at Illume Fertility, told Interesting Engineering on May 22: "There is this phenomenon of Ozempic what I think what's happening is women who may not have been ovulating before with the improvements that the medication is bringing on, that might be helping them to ovulate more regularly and they might be more likely to conceive while on the medication than not—so it is recommended to avoid pregnancy while taking the medication." Dr. Zuri A. Murrell, in a video on X last year: "There is nothing magical about the medicine that's in Ozempic that helps you get pregnant. But what it does is that a lot of times, when people can't, it's because of a hormone weight imbalance. "And so, when you lose weight, and sometimes when you lose weight rapidly, the hormones and the new you aren't in concert. Or they really are in concert, and guess what can happen, pregnancy. "So, it's not the Ozempic itself, it is actually the balancing out of your hormones. That means that you've lost fat, and that the body actually for you is working like it should. So just remember, Ozempic is not something that somebody takes and 'I'm pregnant.' What it does do is cause your body and hormone level to be more in sync and more likely that you can." What Happens Next It remains unclear whether the FDA will follow the MHRA's lead in issuing similar warnings or guidance on contraception.
