Nurseries in Southport launch leading new early years curriculum

'BEE Curious' has been carefully created by industry experts to prepare children to develop a love of learning and give them a head start in life, Busy Bees, the UK's largest childcare provider, is launching a new curriculum in centres across Southport, focused on early years development.

The curriculum will be rolled out in Busy Bees' 2 centres in Southport, providing more than 200 children with access to a rich and holistic early education.

The programme has been created by Gill Jones MBE, Busy Bees' Group Chief Quality Officer and Former His Majesty's Inspector and Deputy Director of Schools and Early Education at Ofsted, with contributions from leading experts in all aspects of early years education.

Developed in line with the latest child behavioural science research, the Bee Curious curriculum is designed to build on the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, (a statutory framework that all childcare providers must follow), to provide children with a set of broader, deeper and richer learning opportunities that will give them a stronger foundation for future learning.

The curriculum incorporates a sequenced progression model which means that practitioners will make sure a child understands and is secure in each stage of learning before progressing to the next. This focus on ensuring a solid understanding at each stage of learning will enable children to build key skills and knowledge throughout their formative years.

Learning is tailored to each child's individual pace, style and interests to develop a robust foundation to build upon.

The curriculum has been created around core themes; such as vocabulary, developing a love of stories, and understanding basic mathematical concepts; that are scientifically proven to support better outcomes in life.

Delivered to the highest standard through playful teaching, Bee Curious adapts to each child's individual needs and uses play-based learning to make education exciting and enjoyable. 

Activities within the curriculum reflect the broad range of skills and knowledge children need to get off to a great start in life, from improving concentration through knowledge-based activities to building an appreciation for self-expression through the arts, with a view to not only giving children a head start for School but setting each child up for long-term success.

Gill Jones, Group Chief Quality Officer at Busy Bees said:- "At Busy Bees, we have over 40 years of experience and we're always looking at innovative ways to ensure we're offering our children the best start in life. Busy Bees is hugely excited to launch the Bee Curious curriculum across our Southport nurseries as part of this mission. Thanks to the guidance of industry-leading experts on child behaviour and development, and insight from scientific research, as well as our global network of practitioners, the Bee Curious curriculum combines a wealth of knowledge to encourage play-based learning that taps into the natural curiosity of our children. Supporting children for better outcomes in life is at the heart of what we do, and we look forward to nurturing a love of learning in each child at our centres."

To find a Busy Bees near you, visit:- BusyBeesChildcare.Co.UK.

Mayor unveils £30m worth of new funding for walking and cycling schemes across Liverpool City Region

MAYOR Steve Rotheram has unveiled a funding package of nearly £30m to deliver schemes which will make walking and cycling easier and safer for communities across the Liverpool City Region. The money is being committed to:- active travel, highways and regeneration projects supporting sustainable transport, employment, and housebuilding in:- Huyton, Netherton and Runcorn.  Funding for projects includes:-

• £12.2m for the Huyton Active Travel corridor programme, which will see upgrades to footpaths and cycle lanes and capacity improvements at Tarbock Island roundabout linking new Halsnead Garden Village residential development with Huyton Town Centre and Railway Station.
  

• £12.4m to improve walking and cycling links to the vital Sefton Maritime Corridor, which links the Port of Liverpool with the planned commercial development at Atlantic Park.
  

• £4.9m for active travel infrastructure linked to the planned Runcorn Busway scheme as part of the regeneration of the Palacefields area, a development supported by the CA's brownfield land fund.

Investment for these schemes is to be drawn from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), a pot of £710m set aside for major transport infrastructure projects across the Liverpool City Region.  Subject to approval at this month's Combined Authority meeting, these schemes mark the full allocation of money from the Region's 1st tranche of CRSTS funding. This means focus will now turn to delivery, with construction work on these and other major projects to begin in the coming months.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "I want the Liverpool City Region to be the best place in the country for walking and cycling. Investing in safe, accessible active travel infrastructure is key to making that a reality. Today's announcement of £30m in funding brings our total investment in the Region's active travel network to over £100m. That's a huge commitment to transforming how people get around. By making it easier for people to walk or cycle, especially for shorter trips, we're connecting our communities, supporting economic growth, cutting carbon emissions, and boosting quality of life for everyone in our Region. This investment is another stride forward in building a world-class transport network that's healthier, greener, and better connected for all."

The improvements funded by this new cash boost are part of wider plans to deliver a 600km network of walking and cycling routes across the 6 boroughs of the Liverpool City Region; Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral; with more than 260km set to be delivered by the end of 2026.

Simon O'Brien, Liverpool City Region Cycling and Walking Commissioner, said:- "It is fantastic to see this new funding being committed to schemes which will make walking and cycling easier and safer across the City Region. Linking communities, reducing carbon emissions, helping people to be healthier; projects like these give us an amazing opportunity to help change the way we think about travelling around our local area."

Development of new active travel infrastructure is a key element of Mayor Rotheram's plan for an integrated London-style transport system that is quick, simple, affordable, and accessible to all. Other major investments include:- the purchase of more than 100 zero emission double-decker electric buses, a £32m transport interchange for St Helens Town Centre, £26m for the 1st new Mersey Ferry in over 60 years and £100m for the new Liverpool Baltic Rail Station.