FL10 Developing Child Care and Nursery Provision

Children with poor school attendance are subsequently less likely to do well and teenage parents are at particular risk of poverty and social exclusion. The limited daycare provision available to people on low incomes or state benefits is problematic in itself and contributes to the high levels of worklessness in the area, especially amongst young and lone parents. Increased daycare provision and nursery places will provide practical help and support by enabling people to pursue educational, training and employment opportunities.

The Partnership will continue to campaign to bring Sure Start programmes into the area and, in the meantime, will provide capital and revenue funding initiatives for the benefit of families with children under 5 years old. Interventions will provide additional childcare (drop-ins, crèches and a nursery), better health care, increased early learning input for babies and children and more training, volunteering and employment opportunities for parents.

FL11 Improving Attainment and Standards

There are five schools within the Greater Hollington area, The Grove Secondary School, New Horizons Behavioural Support Centre, Churchwood Primary School, Hollington Primary School and Robsack Wood Primary School.

The four mainstream schools have come together to participate in the county’s first ‘full service schools’ initiative, becoming centres for a range of non-education services. Police, housing association staff, debt workers, parenting skills tutors and others all provide regular services at the schools. Residents can access services on their own terms, and in a safe local environment where they feel comfortable. The schools have already put in place a number of programmes including a sports development officer, designated police officer time, a joint school nurse programme and ‘multi agency support team’ workers working alongside ‘inclusive learning tutors’.

The Full Service Schools approach is based on evidence from the USA that evidences a range of benefits including improved attendance, fewer teenage pregnancies, a reduction in parental mistrust towards schools and lower crime in the community. The Full Service Schools initiative is a key intervention for the Greater Hollington Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder.

The Partnership is facilitating the establishment of a senior post to co-ordinate the work programme and draw together a package of measures designed to put into practice the vision of Full Service Schools which deliver a whole range of community services from community dentistry to counselling to financial advice, child care and adult learning opportunities. The initiative will take into account the recent DfES guidance on "extended schools" and aims to demonstrate cutting edge practice, linked to many other strands within the neighbourhood management pathfinder programme and neighbourhood renewal more generally in Hastings.

FL12 Providing Lifelong Learning

Widening participation in learning and providing opportunities for more people to achieve their potential will result in people being more effective and confident within the context of a more successful society and economy. Groups least likely to have undertaken learning in the past three years include:- those aged 50 or over, those looking after the home or family, the retired and those unable to work because of long-term sickness, those leaving school aged 16 or younger and those leaving school without qualifications. As all occupations involve the use of reading, writing and mathematical skills to some extent, people without those skills are at a disadvantage in obtaining employment. Educational standards must be raised at all levels and the widening gap between high and low achievers must be closed.

Since 1999 the local Horizons Community Learning project has provided free, accessible, flexible learning in informal settings to adults of all ages within the Greater Hollington area. Horizons provide a holistic approach to education and the broader impact on health and well-being. Research and experience demonstrates that this type of approach has a significant, positive impact on the lifestyles, aspirations and confidence of individuals and families. Outcomes demonstrated include improving quality of life, increased access to health and better parenting.