Information packs for Childminders
Friday, February 23 2007
170 Childminders in the Borders area will soon be receiving a boost to their educational resources thanks to the Scottish Borders Community Safety Forum Home Safety Working Group (HSWG). The packs for childminders were introduced following a survey last year.
The HSWG have put together an information pack for childminders which covers both home and road safety issues. Donations of items for the packs were received from Lothian & Borders Fire & Rescue Service, Family Support Services and Lifelong Learning.
The packs contain colourful storyboard pictures and colouring-in sheets as well as useful contacts and website addresses for childminders and parents. It is hoped that the packs will assist childminders in teaching basic safety messages to children in their care, which the children can then take home to their families.
Jill Hosker, a Childminding Development Officer, said "These packs will help childminders to educate children in their care to be aware of dangers in and around the home, and to share it with their parents. The packs are bright, colourful, fun, and very child-friendly."
Councillor Patricia Purves, Chair of the Working Group, said "This is a very simple, inexpensive idea which will help reduce the number of injuries to children in the under 5 age group. We have been working with local Fire and Police officers and the voluntary sector to bring all the expertise together to reduce the casualty rates.
We are constantly looking for new ways of teaching and communicating safety messages to the public. The packs present what we want to say in a colourful, fun, interactive way. They are particularly useful for families from Eastern European countries who are living in the Borders, and can help with safety and language."
For further information contact: Steven Irvine, Community Safety Officer at Scottish Borders Council on 01835 825058, or sirvine@scotborders.gov.uk
Unified Solutions.