Schools’ worries over
foreign language pupils
by David Skentelbery
AN increase in the number of pupils who don’t have English as their first language is worrying some primary schools at Warrington.
Heads of some schools in the Bewsey and Whitecross area believe a contributory factor is the increasingly varied workforce employed at nearby Warrington Hospital.
They feel this is placing additional pressure on their schools as children with English as a foreign language often require additional support.
The problem has been highlighted in a report to a borough council scrutiny committee by a working group set up to investigate early years education provision.
Members decided to focus on the Bewsey and Whitecross area because it has significant levels of deprivation and results below the average for Warrington as a whole.
Six primary schools and two nursery providers were consulted – and children in the 4-5 age group were given scores to indicate their progress and learning needs at the end of their reception year.
This showed pupils from Bewsey and Whitecross had scores consistently less than the Warrington average – particularly in communication skills, language and literacy.
The report stated: “It became clear to the group that a number of the schools were now experiencing higher numbers of English as a foreign language pupils on their rolls compared with previous years.
“It was felt that one of the contributing factors to this was the increasingly varied workforce being employed at Warrington Hospital.
“The schools were concerned that this was placing additional pressure on them as children with English as a foreign language also often required additional support.”
But North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust – which runs Warrington and Halton hospitals – says only around 9.4 per cent of its 3,845 employees are of overseas origin. Since December 2005, nine new recruits originated from overseas.
Mick Curwen, deputy director of human resources, said: “The majority of our staff from ethnic minority groups are doctors who have relocated to the UK to study medicine, of who some may bring their families with them.
“We recruit staff solely on candidates’ ability to fulfil their roles and the result is that we have a skilled and diverse workforce that delivers the best possible care to patients.”
The Trust has not recruited healthcare professionals proactively from abroad since summer 2004.
Building tribute
to former MP
by Gary Skentelbery
A WARRINGTON college has paid tribute to one of the town?s best known modern day politicians, naming part of its new ?27 million campus after him.
Doug Hoyle, represented Warrington as an MP from 1981 to 1997 when he became a life peer. He now sits in the House of Lords as Baron Hoyle of Warrington.
Lord Hoyle said he was delighted at the honour.
?It was a privilege to become a fellow of the Collegiate, to have a building named after me is something that I could only dream about. The Collegiate is going forward and contributes lots to Warrington and the North West.
Colin Daniels, chairman of governors at the Collegiate, who actually contested the 1992 General Election against Lord Hoyle, performed the opening ceremony with principal Paul Hafren in front of an audience of civic VIPs and Collegiate staff.
Mr Daniels said: ?The Collegiate and Lord Hoyle have long connections with Warrington and we are delighted that we are in a position to open a building in his name.?
Record-breaking tree
to be felled by council
by David Skentelbery
A 58ft tall tree, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, is to be felled by Warrington Borough Council.
The giant London Plane tree was planted in 2001 by former pop singer turned garden designer Kim Wilde as the central feature of the plush Winwick Park housing development.
Some 60 years old, it was transported from Belgium to Warrington at a cost of ?60,000 to replace a landmark water tower which was part of the old Winwick Hospital before it was demolished to make way for housing.
It is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest living tree ever transported and replanted.
But it was severely damaged by gale force winds in January, despite being secured by a system of underground anchors and cables. Ever since, council chiefs have been trying to save it – but have finally had to admit defeat.
Worries over the high cost of replanting the giant tree, together with the uncertainly of its future survival and safety and stability have given the council no alternative other than to fully remove it and its exposed root system.
Parks chief Dave Stamp said: “We have called upon experts to assess the damage and it has been decided to remove the London Plane tree, as part of the ongoing planned removals and treatment of fallen and damaged trees.
“This and the treatment and removal of other fallen and damaged trees at WinwickPpark will be carried out shortly and options regarding their future replacement are to be now considered by the council.”
Winwick Parish Council would like to see the site used to display a bit of the village’s history – a weather vane which used to sit on top of the old hospital.
But it is believed it would cost ?20,000 to build a suitable structure for the weather vane.
It had been expected the London Plane would have grown to 150 ft and live for up to 250 years.
The tree was transported to Warrington by ferry to Hull and then along the M62 by special trailer with police escort.
Off-licences join
forces with police
by John Hendon
FIVE off-licences at Warrington are joining forces with the police over the Easter weekend in a campaign to reduce alcohol related crime.
They will be decked out with the distinctive ?ArcAngel? logo ? and police and Community Support Officers will be calling in to give advice on issues such as underage drinking, etc.
ArcAngel is the groundbreaking Cheshire Police campaign against alcohol related crime.
The initiative has been set up to tackle issues such as underage drinking and theft of booze to counteract a worsening situation for off licences.
Warrington?s five shops co-operating in the scheme are: One Stop Shop, Park Road, Great Sankey; Simply Drinks, Westbrook; M and J Minimart, Woolston; Nikitas Superstore, Padgate; and Romas, Thelwall Lane, Latchford.
A total of 27 shops across Cheshire have partnered up with the police for the campaign to gain extra support.
Officers have visited these premises and put together an action plan to combat their individual problems. This ranges from education and high visibility visits by police officers and PCSOs to design advice to make the shop less of a target to thieves.
The partner shops been given ArcAngel themed graphics to display and police officers or PCSOs will set up times when they will be inside the shop to give advice to staff and customers. These daily visits will be advertised on posters.
ArcAngel co-ordinator Sgt Alison Wheeler said: “All the graphics have been delivered to shops and there has been a very positive response.
“We think that a shop which has been fully kitted out with logos will be extremely effective.”
Teen queen Julie
just misses out
by Lesley Wilkinson
A LYMM teenager came close to winning a national beauty contest at her first attempt in a competition.
Julie Duane, 16, of Adey Road, was in the final five for her age group in the Miss Teen Queen UK competition. But after a panel vote she was not one of the top two to win a place in the finals in London in the summer.
Julie entered the competition at The Clothes Show in Birmingham in December.
She competed against more than 4,500 girls to get to the next stage of the contest. She was invited to London, given a make-over and took part in a professional photo shoot.
Her mother Trac
ey said the family were very proud of her success.
Julie was pleased with her success and is considering whether to enter further beauty contests.
She said: “At the moment I am studying hard for my exams and will consider whether to pursue this at a later stage. But I am pleased to have got so far and enjoyed the experience.”
Julie, who has a brother Johnny and sister Kelly, is in the Lower Sixth at Lymm High School. She is studying for A Levels in English Literature, Sociology, Performing Arts and Biology, and hopes to become a special needs teacher.
She does voluntary special needs teaching in Warrington, sings and plays netball for the school.
Presentation to
1,000th job finder
by Lesley Wilkinson
A SPECIAL presentation to the 1,000th person to find permanent work via an innovative scheme was held at the Village Hotel, Warrington.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones made the presentation to promote the scheme run by Labour Ready.
In May last year the MP congratulated the first worker from the scheme who found work with Bensons for Beds.
The project, “Temp to Perm,” benefits both employers and employees. It allows staff to find permanent work quickly and helps employers to find staff easily.
The dinner was hosted by Labour Ready, and its president Steve Cooper flew in from the United States. He was joined by UK managing director Steve Cardy and managers from throughout the country including Robin Cain from Warrington.
Ms Jones presented worker Glen Simister with a certificate. He was accompanied by the chief executive of his new employer Caldwells of Warrington.
The MP said: “I was impressed with the innovative approach being adopted by Labour Ready in May last year. They have gone from strength to strength and it is a fantastic achievement to have secured permanent work for one thousand people in less than a year.”
Ellie’s grandmother is
charged with manslaughter
by our correspondent
THE grandmother of the five-year-old Warrington girl mauled to death by a dog has been charged with manslaughter.
Jackie Simpson was caring for little Ellie Lawrenson, from Great Sankey, when the pitbull terrier-type dog attacked the child in the early hours of New Year?s Day.
Now the Crown Prosecution Service has decided they have enough evidence to charge the 46-year-old over the death as well as for possession of heroin.
Ellie’s uncle Kiel Simpson, owner of the dog, called Reuben, has been charged with possession of a dangerous dog.
Both will appear before Liverpool magistrates next Wednesday.
Jackie Simpson tried to pull the dog off her granddaughter in the attack at her home at Eccleston, St Helens.
Ellie?s funeral took place in January at Eccleston Christ Church, St Helens.
