| The Char Valley Village Communities Action Plans 2003 |
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for Whitchurch Canonicorum, Wootton Fitzpaine and Stanton St. Gabriel Parishes |
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| Action Plans for Issues affecting all Three Parishes |
| 8. Childcare and Schooling Access to day care or child minders for under school age children is always more difficult in a rural area. Tick Tocks Day Nursery now operates in Charmouth which is a great step forward, but it already has a waiting list. In our small communities most parents who want, or need to work, manage to do at least a part time job by juggling the childcare between them on different shifts, or by sharing the childcare with other members of their families. The network of grannies is a vital element of the economy and is one of the reasons why many of our young families prefer to be living within the communities in which they were themselves brought up. A Parent and Toddler Group meets on Friday mornings at Wootton Fitzpaine Village Hall. This is for pre-playgroup children and their parents who meet for a social morning and to learn to help their children with play and games. This group not only provides a happy play experience but also helps with any feelings of isolation that young parents may feel in a rural area. A flourishing Playgroup meets in the Village Hall at Whitchurch Canonicorum three mornings a week. The Playgroup serves the entire area including Charmouth. There is also Monkton Wyld Kindergarten at Monkton Wyld Court on two mornings a week. Both these pre-school groups accept Ofsted vouchers for free places to 3 - 4 year olds. The children from our parishes nearly all go to either Marshwood CE VA Primary School or to Charmouth County Primary School. We are fortunate in having two excellent but different primary schools for parents to choose between. Children mostly go on to The Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis, with a few going to Colyton Grammar School in Devon and some to the Sir John Colfox School in Bridport. Children with learning difficulties go to Mountjoy School in Bridport or other specialist centres within Dorset. In our Community Survey, the majority of parents were happy with the schooling that their children received. Many children now stay on at Woodroffe after sixteen, but some go to Weymouth College (by bus) or Exeter College (by train from Axminster) or other training. We are particularly interested in the new Scooter Scheme (BASE) in Bridport which could ease the transition into work or college for those who do not yet have transport of their own. It can be difficult to access public transport on the A35 if you live in the Marshwood Vale. |
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ACTION PLAN AIMS:
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| To support our local early learning and childcare
facilities in any way that we can, to ensure the continuing provision of
the best possible start for the children of our area. Actions on childcare and schooling: • Provide support and help for grant funding when necessary. Information for residents Contact numbers: Tick Tocks Day Nursery,Charmouth 01297 560088. Whitchurch Playgroup, Claire Blatchford 01297 678426. Monkton Wyld Kindergarten, Kate on 01297 560342. Dorset County Council Children’s Information Service (for list of registered childminders and nurseries etc.) 01305 228418 Bridport Area Scooter Scheme (BASE) 07909 935 951 |
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