This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Two children's service centres open in Stranraer
30/08/2004
Two children's services centres - designed to give
children in Stranraer a better start in life - were opened
today.
The Park Primary centre brings together education,
social work and health services on one site to offer
intensive support for new parents and mums-to-be.
Meanwhile, the Belmont Primary centre caters for
primary-age children with severe and complex learning
difficulties who previously had to attend the local
secondary school.
Education Minister Peter Peacock said:
"By providing joined-up services and help, tailored to
the local community's needs, we can ensure that every child
gets the services they need, with additional support
available for vulnerable children and young people.
"Since devolution we have put real emphasis on placing
the needs of each and every child at the heart of
everything we do. These centres are excellent local
facilities providing for some of the most vulnerable in our
society. The extra funds the Executive makes available,
together with the enterprise of the local council makes all
of this possible- it is devolution in Scotland at work,
improving lives locally."
During his visit to Stranraer, Mr Peacock also announced
the allocation of Determined to Succeed funding for
Dumfries and Galloway Council. The council will receive
£1.1 million as part of the Executive's Enterprise in
Education strategy to help develop more creative young
people and prepare them for the world of work.
Mr Peacock said:
"To build the ambitious, confident Scotland we want, we
need to equip our young people with the skills they need to
play their part. Determined to Succeed - the Executive's
Enterprise in Education strategy - does just that by
offering young people the chance to gain skills, knowledge
and attitudes that give them a head-start in life.
"Scotland leads the world in enterprise education
programmes and I am delighted to see Dumfries and Galloway
getting the funds to make further progress."
The Education Minister had one more thing to flag up
during his visit as three Dumfries and Galloway schools
have received Green Flag Eco School awards in recognition
of their environmental awareness and practical action.
Mr Peacock presented the awards to Jennifer Sproat of
Borgue Primary, Jennifer McClintick from Drummore Primary
and William Saunders of Wigtown Primary.
The Executive has committed £42 million over 2003-06 to
increase the breadth and scope of Enterprise in Education
activity and ensure it is delivered from P1 to S6. All
local authorities have developed Enterprise in Education
plans which set out how they will implement the
strategy.
Belmont Primary's children's services centre is designed
to offer more inclusive and age-appropriate provision for
local children with severe and complex learning
difficulties. Previously, primary children from the
Stranraer area with such complex needs were educated at
Stranraer Academy.
The Park Primary centre has been purpose-built to house
the Dicks Hill Creche and the Cradle Project. The crèche is
a community-managed organisation which provides childcare
alongside development opportunities for parents. The Cradle
Project offers services to pregnant women and new parents.
An integrated team of staff provide intensive support
throughout pregnancy and the first year after birth.