Parenta Sports Day raises money for Marie Curie cancer

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

The Parenta team swapped the office for the sports field last Friday in aid of raising money for Marie Curie Cancer.

Parenta directors, Nick Williams and Allan Presland, tackle the mammoth task of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro this September as they aim to raise £10,000 for Marie Cure Cancer.

To support their intensive training schedule, the Parenta team organised a ‘Sports Day’ event to raise further donations for the cause.

Fun games included ‘Wheelbarrow’, ‘Caterpillar’ and ‘Bowls’ as two teams made up of Parenta Staff battled it out for bragging rights!

Nick Williams, part of the winning team commented, “It was clear that we are in peak physical condition heading into next month’s challenge (cough)!  Allan and I are very excited about attempting Kilimanjaro and hope that we can continue to raise more money for the Maire Curie foundation.”

If you would like to sponsor the boys on their climb up Kilimanjaro and help reach their £10,000 target for Marie Curie Cancer Care, head over to their donations page and leave your comments and support!

UK families face highest costs for childcare: Average weekly nursery bill is £160

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Cost of childcareWorking mothers have to fork out more for childcare in Britain than in any other country in the developed world.

A third of UK family income goes towards nurseries and childminders – almost four times the cost in Germany and three times that of France.

Charities say the exorbitant costs – which can reach £20,000 per child – are down to the fact that the Government targets state help for childcare towards those on lower incomes, pushing up costs for others.

It means the middle classes are bearing the brunt of spiralling costs, leaving them with bills of more than £160 a week on average for nursery places.

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Government targets child poverty with reform of the benefits system

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Child benefits systemWork and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has denounced families’ dependence on welfare for allowing children to remain trapped in poverty, as the government set out its proposals for reforming the benefits system.

Speaking in east London, Duncan Smith established his plans for welfare reform in the 21st Century Welfare white paper, published today. Options in the paper include combining elements of the current income-related benefits and tax credit systems, bringing out-of-work and in-work support together in a single system, and supplementing monthly household earnings through credit payments reflecting circumstances such as children, housing and disability.
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Doncaster Council receives £1.29m to improve failing children’s services

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Chris Pratt Director of Doncaster's children servicesThe government has handed Doncaster Council £1.29m to pay for a team of project managers to help turn around its failing children’s services department.

Chris Pratt, director of the children and young people’s service, says that four project staff are already working on improving the department and it is now looking to use the extra money to recruit a team of project managers and two project directors.

One of these director-level posts will specifically look at the children and young people in care service.
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Government presses ahead with nursery education code of practice and Early Years Single Funding Formula

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Nursery news - Free entitlementThe Code of Practice on the free entitlement to nursery education will be implemented from September, the Government has confirmed, despite pre-election promises by the Conservatives to suspend it.

The news will come as a blow to some nursery owners who were hoping the Tories would fulfil their pledge to postpone the Code and allow settings to charge top-up fees.

A Government spokesperson said, ‘The new Code of Practice will come into force in September, to ensure that local authorities are working to a clear common framework in implementing the extension to 15 hours. However, we will be looking to streamline this guidance next year.’

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