Friesland School's 'net zero' rebuild given green light
The three-storey school - identified as a prime candidate for redevelopment by the Department for Education - will feature 31 classrooms and teaching areas, along with a drama studio, library, dining hall, sports hall and fitness suite.Amphitheatre-style seating, a fenced "recovery garden" quiet space and separate garden for pupils with special educational needs will be added to the existing outdoor facilities.Electric vehicle charging points will also be installed in the car park.
Councillor Mark Alfrey, the borough council's lead member for environment, said the new school would be "a tremendous boost for the students of Sandiacre".He added: "This exciting project underscores a commitment to fostering an inspiring, sustainable and inclusive learning environment for current and future generations."Five objection letters were submitted by opposing residents, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said, with concerns over construction traffic disruption, removal of trees creating privacy issues, and drainage issues.Closing the sports centre has saved the council £120,000 a year, with the authority saying the facility struggled to remain viable due to its limited access to the public.The council had also said that the Two Counties Trust academy chain, based in Kirkby in Ashfield, "viewed "the presence of sports centre visitors, contractors and others as a safety and safeguarding risk".
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ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
Major recruitment drive underway to get more men working in nurseries
Report by Emma Sweeney A major recruitment drive is underway to encourage more men in the North West to join the early years workforce. It comes as new research, commissioned by the Department for Education, reveals the majority of parents believe it's important for children to be cared for by both men and women 9/10 parents believe young children should be cared for by both men and women 47% say their child's nursery has no male staff One man bucking the trend is J Scarisbrick, who works at Cherry Tree Nursery in Warrington. He originally trained as a chiropractor and was all set for a long career in the sports and health industry. However, after spending more and more time with his young nephews and his girlfriend's nieces, he realised he had a deeper calling - working with children during their most formative years. He said: 'Women can be incredible fire fighters and amazing police officers, so why can't men be early years educators? You just have to ignore the stigma and be there for the kids as they need men in their lives and I am so proud being a father figure for all my kids in our nursery.' Parents at Cherry Tree nursery say they feel lucky to be in the minority. Rebecca Wheeler said: "J has been an amazing asset to Romeo's experience. He's taken to him like a big brother." As part of a nationwide recruitment drive to help staff early years settings, the government are offering payments of £1000 in 38 areas to attract more men into the industry. The research, commissioned by the Department for Education, also shows that around a quarter of adults believe gender stereotypes (25%), fear of judgement or false accusations (25%) and social pressure to pursue more 'masculine' careers (24%) are major reasons why men are deterred from entering the sector It comes ahead of the September childcare expansion due to save parents up to £7,500 a year. Nurseries are under pressure to to recruit in time for the September expansion of 30 funded childcare hours for children from 9 months old. Working parents of children older than nine months are currently able to access 15 hours of funded childcare a week, before the full rollout to all eligible families in September. The Labour Government previously announced that up to 4,000 childcare places are set to be rolled out at new or expanded school-based nurseries in England from next month. Minister for Early Education, Stephen Morgan, said: 'Children thrive when they're supported by a diverse mix of role models – and that starts in the early years. 'With big changes coming in September, we're backing nurseries to recruit the staff they need and encouraging more men to consider this rewarding career. Through our Plan for Change, we're making early years careers more appealing – and reminding dads that if you've helped your own child learn and grow, you've already got the skills to make a difference to many more.' However, the expansion of the early years sector comes amid a national debate about safety, sparked by the tragic death of 9-month-old Genevieve Meehan at the hands of her nursery worker in Stockport in 2022. Her parents say if the Government is going to prioritise recruitment and promise more nursery places, it must also implement robust safety measures. Katie Wheeler, Genevieve's mother said: It's a very laudable aim and I think it's important to see more men in the early years workforce. Howerver we want to see mandatory CCTV in nurseries, a focus on safer sleep and safer sleep training and an overhaul of the Ofsted inspection process, so that this rapid expansion is also met with a call to action in terms of safety." Following their daughter's death her parents, Katie and her partner John Meehan, launched a campaign calling for major changes, including compulsory CCTV in nurseries, mandatory safe sleep training for staff and unannounced inspections by Ofsted to be routine. A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'Genevieve's death was a tragedy and should never have happened. Keeping children safe is an absolute priority and an important part of part of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best start in life. 'Our landmark Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill is the biggest piece of child protection legislation in a generation, and we are introducing a wide range of strengthened safeguarding measures from September 2025 including enhanced recruitment practices to further prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children, and new whistleblowing requirements to help ensure that all early years educators understand how to escalate any safeguarding concerns. 'We will continue to closely monitor whether any further changes are needed to keep children as safe as possible.'
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Wakefield museum tour guides' pay demands 'unaffordable'
The National Coal Mining Museum has confirmed that 40 members of staff will strike due to ongoing disputes over workers, who are mostly guides leading underground tours at the site in Wakefield, will walk out from Wednesday until 14 September, with further action planned if an agreement is not union, Unison, said museum managers proposed an uplift of 80p an hour or 5% for all workers, whichever would be the greater, but this was an "inferior offer".A spokesperson for the museum said it was "saddened" by its pay offer being rejected by the union, adding the industrial action meant its underground tours would not run during this time. The spokesperson said that during the strike period, "the museum will remain open and continue to share the important history of coal mining with our visitors".It added: "The majority of our workforce of over 100 people are not in Unison and do not support the industrial action. "It is largely made up of the museum guides who deliver our underground tours. Only 28 Unison members out of the 39 who voted in the original ballot, did so in favour of industrial action."After further negotiations and serious consideration, mindful of the wellbeing of our wider workforce and our visitors, the museum proposed an increased offer to all staff of 80p per hour or 5%, whichever is the greater." 'Simply unaffordable' The spokesperson added their offer would have equated to a pay rise of more than 6% for many of its workers, but it was "rejected" by the union, who "refused to share our revised offer with their members to see if they wished to accept it".They went on to say that the museum also relied on external funding and donations and "continues to face considerable financial pressures"."As a charity, our trustees feel this offer is fair and the counter-claim by Unison, which equates to over 8%, for many, is simply unaffordable," the spokesperson said"It would jeopardise people's jobs across the organisation and threaten the long-term sustainability of the museum. That counter-claim was suggested by Unison as part of the negotiation process and was at no point agreed."It is our intention to keep an open dialogue with Unison, with the sincere hope that this offer along with the many additional benefits included will be accepted to benefit our staff as a whole." Unison previously said the pay offer should be 5% or £1 an hour more, whichever is union added that it met with museum managers through the arbitration service Acas on Friday with the hopes that a revised figure could be agreed to put to staff as this would have suspended the Hooley, Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser, said the offer from the museum showed "how little managers value staff"."If museum managers actually care about their staff, they'll improve the offer. Unison is happy to meet right away to resolve this. That would allow families to enjoy the museum and its facilities throughout the summer holidays. "But until they are willing to do so, staff have no option but to strike." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
D-Day veteran celebrates 100th birthday at regimental museum
A D-Day veteran has celebrated his 100th birthday at the museum of his old regiment in Aberdeen after receiving his coveted message from the King. Jim Glennie turned 100 on Tuesday and a number of his family and friends gathered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum where he volunteers. Mr Glennie met the King earlier this year when he toured the Aberdeen museum, with Charles praising him as a 'great example to us all'. As an 18-year-old private, he was part of the invasion force which landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. He was later wounded in action and taken prisoner, spending the remainder of the war in Stalag IV-B. He and other soldiers made their own way back to Allied lines when their German guards deserted them as the Russians approached from the east. When Mr Glennie returned to Turriff in Aberdeenshire after the war, he became a welder. France has awarded him the Legion d'Honneur and earlier this year he was awarded the British Empire Medal in the King's Honours list. Friends and family gathered at the museum on Tuesday to celebrate, singing 'happy birthday' to the veteran. He was formally presented with his British Empire Medal by Aberdeen's Lord-Lieutenant, who is also the city's Lord Provost, David Cameron. The former soldier had earlier received his message from the King. John McLeish, chief executive of the The Gordon Highlanders Museum, said Mr Glennie was in good spirits. He told the PA news agency: 'Jim Glennie has volunteered at The Gordon Highlanders Museum for over 30 years. 'His military service is well documented but less well-known is the commitment and enthusiasm he brings to his volunteer role every Tuesday, week in week out. 'He is an important member of our team and, at the age of 100, his personality and generosity of spirit add to the wonderful camaraderie exhibited by team members. 'Watching Jim engaging with museum visitors is a sight to behold. He makes a regular museum visit very special indeed and, ultimately, he makes people smile! 'There were lots of smiles at the Museum today as we celebrated Jim's 100th birthday.' Charles toured the regimental museum in January, and upon seeing the King, Mr Glennie greeted him cheerfully and said 'long time no see!' The King told him about a portrait of Mr Glennie he had been shown at the museum, saying 'it looked terrific' and promising to send him a message when he turns 100 in August. The King said: 'You're a great example to us all, if I may say so, you really are.'
