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Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Ofsted confirms effective sensitive support for Central Bedfordshire children and families
We've received welcome feedback for the social care services we provide to children and families, following a focused visit in February.
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Monday, 25 March 2024
Last chance for parents to have their say on proposed changes to Home to School Transport Policy
There is still time for parents and carers to have their say on proposed changes to two of our Home to School Transport policies.
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Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Have your say on new special school places in Houghton Regis
We have launched a statutory consultation on changes to Chiltern School to ensure that more children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have
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Wednesday, 28 February 2024
Have your say on new special school places in Biggleswade and Shefford
We have launched two statutory consultations to ensure that more children and young people with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) have access to great education.
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Tuesday, 27 February 2024
Schools encouraged to take part in Big Walk and Wheel Challenge
Pupils, teachers, and parents across Central Bedfordshire are being encouraged to walk, wheel, or jump on their bikes and scooters for the 2024 Big Walk and Wheel schools’ challenge.
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Thursday, 15 February 2024
What’s on this half-term in Central Bedfordshire?
As the half-term holiday approaches, we're reminding families about the exciting activities available in the area that they can enjoy together.
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Monday, 29 January 2024
Have your say on our Skills for All strategy
We are inviting people to have their say on a new strategy that outlines how we will support people to access education throughout their lives.
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Thursday, 4 January 2024
Christmas fun for children at Jack and the Beanstalk
Over 300 children got a Christmas treat last Friday (29 December) when they went to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable, starring Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell in EastEnders).
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Tuesday, 28 November 2023
Central Bedfordshire’s Youth Parliament heads to the House of Commons
Members of Central Bedfordshire Council’s Youth Parliament headed to the House of Commons last week to take part in a debate about free school meals.
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Tuesday, 17 October 2023
National Adoption Week 2023
This National Adoption Week (16 to 22 October 2023), a powerful new campaign is being launched by You Can Adopt to celebrate the evolving face of adoption.
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Monday, 21 August 2023
Leighton Buzzard Children's Centre celebrates 15th birthday
Last Thursday (17 August), Leighton Buzzard Children's Centre celebrated its 15th birthday with a fun-day!
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Tuesday, 15 August 2023
Early years settings in Ampthill and Totternhoe are first to achieve new wellbeing accreditation
We have developed a new accreditation for early years settings which focusses on mental health and wellbeing.
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Friday, 7 July 2023
Free childcare boost for Central Bedfordshire families
Our families will benefit from the government’s largest-ever investment in early years childcare and wraparound childcare for primary school-aged children.
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Friday, 9 June 2023
Two parent governors appointed to Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Two new parent governor representatives have taken up their posts on our Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
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Tuesday, 7 March 2023
Council hosts event to help parents understand exploitation
We are hosting a free event for parents to help them understand more about exploitation.
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Monday, 6 March 2023
Shefford and Stotfold Children’s Centre supports families with free, hot meals
In the first two months of 2023, a club run by Shefford and Stotfold Children's Centre has provided food for 13 adults and 25 children.
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Thursday, 2 March 2023
Children’s Centre offers free half term fun for children
Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre, on East Street in Leighton Buzzard, ran a free activity session during half term, which was attended by 18 families with almost 36 children.
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Monday, 13 February 2023
Flitwick Children’s Centre has supported over 1,500 families in the past year
Through weekly outreach sessions in the community, staff at Flitwick Children’s Centre have supported 1,528 families over the past year.
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Thursday, 9 February 2023
Kingfishers Children’s Home rated ‘good’ after Ofsted inspection
Our children’s home in Houghton Regis has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted, for the fourth time in a row.
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Friday, 6 January 2023
Increase in funding to feed vulnerable children this Christmas
On Tuesday 6 December, our Executive agreed to increase the value of its school holiday food vouchers as well as championing the need to improve the free school meals offer.
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Tuesday, 3 January 2023
Parents praise free Parenting Puzzle programme
Parents have praised a free course for parents and carers of children between two and five years old, which is delivered from six of our children’s centres.
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Wednesday, 28 December 2022
Local business donates presents to families at Children’s Centre
A small business based in Silsoe has donated 29 Christmas presents to a Central Bedfordshire Council run children’s centre.
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Friday, 23 December 2022
Children’s centre teams up with local charity to deliver food parcels to families
A children’s centre we run has teamed up with a local charity to pack and deliver food parcels to families in time for Christmas.
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Wednesday, 21 December 2022
400 children get panto treat thanks to our holiday programme
Almost 400 children between the ages of 5 and 12 got a special treat yesterday (Tuesday) after they went to see Cinderella – this year’s pantomime at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable.
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Friday, 2 December 2022
Free activities for children during the Christmas holidays
Our holiday activities and food (HAF) programme is returning over the Christmas holidays, providing fun, free activities for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals.
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Wednesday, 9 November 2022
Double winner at the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2022
On Friday 4 November 2022, Kirstie Baughan, who works for Central Bedfordshire Council’s Children’s Services team was crowned a winner not once, but twice at a national awards ceremony.
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Friday, 4 November 2022
Last chance to have your say on the funding approach for SEND short break leisure activities
Make sure you have your say on our consultation to gain views on the funding approach for SEND short break leisure activities.
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Thursday, 13 October 2022
Council’s Children’s Centre provides school uniforms for 150 children
A Central Bedfordshire Council Children’s Centre has helped provide school uniform to almost 150 local children.
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Tuesday, 11 October 2022
Children’s home rated ‘good’ by Ofsted for fifth year in a row
Maythorn Children’s home in Biggleswade has been rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted for the fifth year in a row. The home has achieved a ‘good’ rating in every inspection conducted since 2017.
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Friday, 23 September 2022
Young carers keep busy this summer
Young carers from Central Bedfordshire have had a ball this summer, getting stuck into a whole host of activities laid on by our Early Help team.
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Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Parenting Puzzle - free courses to help parents and carers of children under 5
We all need a little support at times when it comes to looking after children, which is why it’s worth bearing in mind that across Central Bedfordshire there are FREE courses available.
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Wednesday, 3 August 2022
Fun filled day at free family fête (in Flitwick)
Over 80 young carers from Central Bedfordshire had a fun-filled day in Flitwick on Wednesday (27 July).
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Monday, 25 July 2022
We've launched a free booklet full of fun summer activities for parents and children
The free booklets can be collected from our children's centres.
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Thursday, 14 July 2022
Support for families during the summer holidays
We're outlining how we will support families and children over the six-week summer holidays this year.
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Tuesday, 14 June 2022
Roman remains revealed on Houghton Regis site set for new school
Completion of the new state-of-the-art Houstone School in Houghton Regis will be delayed after the archaeological discovery of Roman, Neolithic and early Bronze Age remains dating back 4,500 years.
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Friday, 13 May 2022
We're seeking opinions to help refresh our Children and Young People's Plan
We're asking children, young people, parents, carers and professionals who work with children for their thoughts to help shape and refresh a Children and Young People's Plan for 2022 to 2025.
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Friday, 29 April 2022
Hundreds of children take part in free Easter holiday activities
Hundreds of children across Central Bedfordshire took part in fun, free activities during the Easter Holidays as a result of our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
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Wednesday, 13 April 2022
Free course to support parents of pre-school aged children
We're running a free programme to support parents and carers of pre-school aged (three to five-year-old) children.
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Wednesday, 6 April 2022
Support for families this Easter
We're supporting families of children eligible for free school meals over the upcoming Easter holiday period.
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Friday, 4 March 2022
Vital children’s social care services rated Good by Ofsted
We have been rated Good for the social care services we provide to children and families, following an inspection in January.
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Friday, 11 February 2022
Over 400 new families signed up for our winter holiday programme
Over 400 new families signed up to our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme over the Christmas holidays, bringing the total number of families registered to over 1,600.
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Thursday, 9 December 2021
Council’s free holiday activities for children returns this winter
During the Christmas holidays, we are once again offering free holiday activities to children entitled to free school meals.
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Wednesday, 17 November 2021
Be safe, be seen – we're keen to help keep students safe when cycling this winter
A new road safety initiative will see over 500 young people across Central Bedfordshire become safer when cycling to and from school this winter.
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Monday, 25 October 2021
Get involved in a week of inclusive half-term activities for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
We're partnered with SNAP PCF to offer a free swimming session for families of children with SEND this half-term, as part of a wider programme of inclusive activities taking place throughout the week.
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Thursday, 21 October 2021
We're supporting local families with food vouchers in October half term
We'll be supporting the families of over 7,000 children with food costs during the October half term.
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Tuesday, 19 October 2021
National Adoption Week champions the voices less heard
Monday 18 October 2021 marks the launch of National Adoption Week 2021, which aims to educate and inform people on the process of modern adoption today.
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Friday, 17 September 2021
Music centres in Central Bedfordshire re-open, to start the new term on the right note
After a year of distribution caused by the pandemic, Inspiring Music (our music service) announces the re-opening of its three music centres for face-to-face music making, playing and performing.
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Friday, 17 September 2021
Praise. following review of early years programme
We've been praised by not-for-profit organisation Parents As First Teachers, after a review of our training programme which supports families from pregnancy until their children are three years old.
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Thursday, 16 September 2021
Over 900 families benefit from our summer holiday programme
This summer, 961 families signed up to our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, providing free activities for children eligible for benefit related free school meals.
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Friday, 10 September 2021
Our holiday activities programme proves a hit with young people
Our holiday activities and food programme has proved a hit amongst young people and their parents after a fun filled week at Woburn Safari Park!
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Tuesday, 10 August 2021
Support available for young people who are expecting their exam results
We have a number of services available to support young people who will be receiving their exam results this week.
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Wednesday, 28 July 2021
We'll help disadvantaged families with food costs and free children's activities over the holiday period
We'll support the families of 7,000 children with food costs over the summer holidays, after receiving further funding from the government to help disadvantaged families.
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Tuesday, 27 July 2021
We've been awarded government grant to support education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children
We've been awarded a government grant of over £200,000 to help support the education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people.
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Friday, 9 July 2021
Central Bedfordshire’s young carers team up with Bath Philharmonia for concert
Young carers in Central Bedfordshire put on a concert for parents and council representatives after being taught to play instruments by the Bath Philharmonia during half term in June.
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Wednesday, 7 July 2021
Maythorn residential home praised for outstanding features as it receives ‘Good’ Ofsted rating with no recommendations
Following a two-day inspection at the end of May 2021, the inspectors recognised the children make excellent progress because of their experiences of living at the home.
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Thursday, 8 April 2021
Two weeks left: have your say on our home to school transport policies
There are two weeks left to give your views on proposed changes to our home to school and college travel assistance policies.
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Wednesday, 3 March 2021
New campaign launched to support children’s early years development
Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust and Central Bedfordshire Council have launched a campaign to help parents support their child’s communication skills during their early years.
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Wednesday, 17 February 2021
Council supports families of more than 5,000 children with food and fuel bills this half term
We have distributed food vouchers to the families of 5,560 children this half term, along with additional support to help them with their winter fuel bills.
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Wednesday, 10 February 2021
Huge donation helped us buy bikes for over 70 looked after children
Thanks to an anonymous donation, specifically for looked after children, we've been able to gift bicycles and non-motorised scooters to over 70 children and young people.
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Monday, 12 October 2020
National Adoption Week aims to raise awareness about who can adopt
Adoption Connects is aiming to challenge myths and misconceptions about the adoption process and increase understanding about who is eligible to adopt.
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Friday, 24 July 2020
Holiday Picnic initiative aims to keep kids healthy and active this summer
A pilot project to improve the health and wellbeing of children (4-12) and families in Central Bedfordshire is expecting to distribute at least 1,250 meals a week over the school summer holidays.