Latest news with #EarlyYears
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Princess Kate quietly returns to work following Windsor Castle security scare
The Princess of Wales has been back at work at Windsor Castle after a short break from her children's half-term holidays and days after a security scare at Windsor Castle The Princess of Wales has quietly returned work just days after a dramatic security scare at Windsor Castle. Both Prince William and Kate had time away from duties last week as their children were on their half-term school holidays. On Sunday, a security scare was sparked at the castle after an intruder was said to have climbed over the wall of the castle grounds. The man was quickly detained by officers from the Metropolitan Police, which is responsible for security at the royal residence. At the time the intruder was allegedly attempting to gain access to the castle, it was reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales were at their Adelaide Cottage home on the Windsor estate at the time with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. However, just days after the security scare, it appears Kate held an Early Years Meeting at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, according to the Court Circular. The private meeting was not attended by the press and the appointment was believed to have been focused on her Early Years initiative. This was established by the princess through the Centre for Early Childhood in 2021, which she founded as a cause close to her heart. The foundation aims to create awareness of the everlasting impact the early years of someone's life can have on the rest of their lives. It also aims to take actions which can help to transform society for the better in the future. Following the security scare last weekend, a man in his 30s was handed over to the local police force, Thames Valley, before being arrested on suspicion of trespass and possession of a Class A drug. The intruder was some distance away from where the royals were residing, as the man was said to have entered the grounds near Town Gate. A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of trespass on a protected site and possession of Class A drugs after entering restricted grounds at Windsor Castle.' 'Officers in the grounds spotted the man just after 13:00hrs on Sunday June 1st and quickly arrested him. He was then passed into the custody of Thames Valley Police.' The Prince and Princess of Wales suffered another terrifying security breach just last year after masked intruders allegedly smashed down a barrier and scaled a six-foot fence to get access to the Windsor Castle estate. The two men allegedly broke into the estate during the night to steal farm vehicles before driving off in a pick-up truck and on a quad bike that had been stored in a barn on October 13. King Charles and Queen Camilla were not at the residence at the time, but William and Kate were believed to be sleeping at nearby Adelaide Cottage with their three children.
West Australian
03-06-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Early Years bus service to provide vital school and healthcare access for Great Southern families
A brand-new Early Years bus service enables young children in the Great Southern access to essential early childhood services by removing persistent transport barriers. Taking its first trip on May 6, the service provides transport to families with children up to 4-years-old to early education services such as KindiLink, health services, and cultural events across Katanning, Kojonup, Gnowangerup, and Broomehill-Tambellup. The initiative developed from the Central Great Southern Community Plan, co-designed with local families, educators and service providers, who identified transport as a major hurdle when accessing early childhood education and health services. Funded through the Early Years Partnership, the place-based approach guarantees tailored solutions to the individual needs of families in the region to improve school readiness, health outcomes, and family participation in the community, to be evaluated in time. Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton said she is eager to support young families and continue to deliver Early Years projects. 'The first five years of a child's life are so important. It is during this time that they build the foundation for lifelong learning, health and wellbeing,' Ms Winton said. 'The Early Years Partnership is a unique collaboration between the State Government, Minderoo Foundation, and the Telethon Kids Research Institute Australia that promotes new ways of working to achieve positive outcomes for children, families and the wider community. 'We know that attending early learning activities and child health appointments is vital in supporting children's wellbeing and school readiness. 'I'm pleased that the Early Years bus service is helping families in Katanning and surrounding communities to access early childhood services.' Families can enrol in the service via a barcode system with the BAC Connected Beginnings team.
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Private nurseries in West Lothian warn over impact of national insurance rise
A spokesperson for the private nurseries said that despite 'open and frank' talks the education department had not recognised the financial pressure caused by rises in the minimum wage thresholds and NI contributions. Private nurseries in West Lothian will face 'a meaningful impact' after it emerged they will get no help to meet increasing staff costs in their annual funding settlement from the council. A spokesperson for the private nurseries said that despite 'open and frank' talks the education department had not recognised the financial pressure caused by rises in the minimum wage thresholds and NI contributions. And he warned councillors that the increased costs could have a 'meaningful impact' on nursery provision, threatening the future of many operators. David Carr from the West Lothian National Day Nurseries Network told councillors: 'Unlike large organisations, many providers are small and single site. We have to respond to the changes this year. Decisions can have an immediate impact on us.' Education officers recommended a minimal increase in funding for the private nurseries. In a report to the Education Executive Greg Welsh the head of Early Years Childcare said: 'The Scottish Government, following agreement with COSLA leaders, has now confirmed additional recurring funding of £366,000 to be provided to the council from financial year 2025/26 to support a minimum 3.75% increase to partner providers/childminders rates for funded early learning and childcare.' Mr Carr said partner providers acknowledged the difficult funding decisions the council had to make. The private nurseries decided to focus on the increasing costs from the NI contributions announced in the Autumn when they pressed their case for a funding increase in discussions with council officers. From April the employers rate for National Insurance rose from 13% to 15%. Minimum wage levels across the board also rose. Mr Carr told councillors: 'Expectations were appropriately limited. The reason we focused on National Insurance and did not discuss any other costs is because we knew we could only ask for so much, leaving aside other details.' He added: 'This is the most important single issue facing partner providers This report was quite straight forward.' Mr Carr said that despite a 'frank and open engagement' 'The evidence we presented is not mentioned in proposals to increase uplift 3.75% This reflects only the increased real living wage and not the total cost of employment which includes National Insurance. This will have meaningful consequences for partner providers.' He said private nurseries employ more staff on a part-time basis, and this increases costs. Councillor Sally Pattle, Lib Dem, asked: ' Will you be able to cope with the change?' Mr Carr said he believed there could be a reduction in the type of provision offered by private nurseries adding: 'It will have a meaningful impact.' Mr Carr advocated that rates should be paid nationally by the Scottish Government rather than being administered by the local authority. READ MORE: West Lothian MS researcher taking on Edinburgh Half Marathon for MS charity Chair of the Education Executive, Councillor Andrew McGuire told councillors he believed that would be a fairer solution. Being the funder created a difficult situation for councils being both a partner to private nurseries and as well as providers of nurseries. Councillor Pattle sought reassurances from education officers that partner providers would continue to be supported by the council. Mr Welsh said that they would and added that both private nursery providers and education officers were in discussion with the Scottish Government about funding. Councillor Pauline Stafford,the SNP depute leader welcomed ' the Scottish Government's review of how we set these rates.'
