December

• Avoid using storecards with high interest rates – most storecards charge interest at around double the rate for most mainstream bank cards.
  
  Don’t be fooled by discounts for opening up store accounts because retailers will be looking to get their money back. 
  
  If you do use storecards, try to pay them off more quickly than other cards in your wallet to save large amounts on interest.
  
  
• Beware of penalty charges on store and credit cards – do not stray over your credit limit or make late repayments or you could face charges of around £20 each time. Many lenders also charge extra for each day you are over the limit.
  
  
• Beware of balance transfer cards with a low APR – many credit cards offer a low interest rate for a limited period if you transfer your debt from another lender. But new purchases may be charged at a higher interest rate. 
  
  Check the small print before agreeing to a balance transfer. Some terms and conditions may require you to pay the old balance off first – which means the interest will mount up on new purchases at a higher rate.
  
  
• Find out whether purchases really are protected – you may be able to claim your money back for goods over £100 that are faulty or items not delivered if you bought them using a credit card. But this does not apply for overseas sales such as internet shopping or shopping cruises to Europe or USA.
  
  
• Beware of fraud when buying on-line – Always use a known or trusted retailer.
  
  When entering credit card or identity details look for the padlock at the bottom of the screen and https: in your web browser’s address bar. If your credit card or identity details are used fraudulently report it to the police immediately.
  
  For more information contact Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards service on 01629 585858 or www.derbyshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards (opens in a new window)  

• communication and interaction
  
  
• cognition and learning
  
  
• behavioural, emotional, and social difficulties or
  
  
• sensory and/or physical needs 
  
  Children’s minister Margaret Hodge said: “Teachers in special schools have a wide range of skills and in many areas are at the leading edge of good classroom practice.
  
  “We now have the provision for expert SEN teachers to share their specialised skills with mainstream schools that are committed to pursuing an inclusive approach – to the benefit of all pupils.”
  
  In Derbyshire 22 of the county’s 47 secondary schools have specialist college status. Schools that gain the status receive a one-off capital grant from the Government of £100,000 and £123 annually per pupil.  

• Adult bike: £8 for three hours (£12 all day)
  
  
• Child bike: £5.50 for three hours (£7 all day)
  
  
• Tandem: £16 for three hours (£24 all day)
  
  
• Tandem (with disabled passenger): £8 for three hours (£12 all day)
  
  
• School party (any bike): £5.50 for three hours (£7 all day)
  
  
• Trailer bike (without hire bike): £7.50 for three hours (£9 all day)
  
  
• Hand-cycles (Shipley Country Park only): £4 for three hours (£6 all day)
  
  The county council’s cycle centres are promoted in conjunction with those run by the Peak District National Park Authority.
  
  For more information visit the county council’s website www.derbyshire.gov.uk (opens in a new window) and look under “countryside hire” and click on “cycle hire centres in Derbyshire” or contact Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058.  

• Bravery, such as fighting an illness or living with a disability
  
  
• Kindness in helping others
  
  
• A commitment to improving their school, community or local environment
  
  
• Sporting, musical, artistic or academic success
  
  Gareth Jones, presenter of TV programmes How2 and Tomorrow’s World, handed out the awards with Councillor Margaret Treweek, vice-chair of Derbyshire County Council. The evening was hosted by Councillor Anne Western, the authority’s deputy leader. 
  
  Peak FM’s Craig Pattison and Chris Payne were comperes for the evening.
  
  Councillor Western said: “The Derbyshire Young Achievers event is always a humbling experience and this year has been no exception.
  
  “Each of the stories and achievements we heard at the ceremony were truly remarkable and it was lovely to see the young people’s efforts recognised.
  
  “This event shows the courage, bravery, kindness and commitment of young people and unfortunately these qualities rarely get the recognition they deserve.”
  
  The evening would not have been possible without the sponsorship and support of: Fujitsu, Istead Business Presentations Ltd, Tarmac, KPMG, Bentley Jennison, Toyota, Babcock and Brown, Scott Wilson, RJ Design, Hassop Hall, Andy Heading Photography, Midlands Co-op, I Want One of Those.  

Now you can cycle and leave your bike in safety while you swim at one of the county’s leisure centres…thanks to a cash grant from Derbyshire County Council.

The county council has awarded £5,274 towards the installation of 10 bike bins with padlocks and chains and security lighting at Etwall Leisure Centre.

It is the first scheme to benefit from the £10,000 made available through Derbyshire’s local transport plan to help businesses change the way staff - or in this case customers - travel to their premises. It is all part of a package in which the county council works with companies to offer people increased travel choices by providing practical help and developing alternative travel arrangements.

The centre decided to install the bike bins after holding a cycle swim event during National Bike week at which many people said they would cycle to the centre more often if there were secure parking facilities. The centre is offering an added incentive by introducing a reduced entry fee for customers who come to the centre on their bikes.

Derbyshire county council’s cabinet member for environment and highways Councillor Brian Lucas said: “We are glad to be able to help Etwall Leisure Centre with the installation of its new bike bins which will hopefully – along with the Mickleover to Etwall cycle path - encourage more people to bike to their swim.

“The local transport plan is all about offering better travel choices – particularly to people without access to a car. It is hoped this grant scheme will encourage more companies to get on board and work with the county council to provide more travel options.”

To apply for grant contact either Judith Laverty or Denise Ludlam, county council sustainable transport officers, on 01629 580000 ext 7156. Funds are limited and applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis.

Government inspectors today (Fri) praised Derbyshire County Council’s youth service for providing the county’s young people with a top quality service.

Ninety-six per cent of youth work observed by the Ofsted inspectors was satisfactory or better – 81 per cent being good or better.

The standard of achievement among young people is also very high with the quality of youth work being good overall and sometimes very good, the inspectors concluded.

The county council also works well with other organisations to increase the range of activities available to teenagers, they said.

A team from the Office for Standards in Education spent five days touring the county’s youth service in October, looking at all aspects of its work.

It awarded the service a “good” rating – only the second of 31 local authority youth services inspected to have achieved this high mark.

Areas highlighted by the inspectors for praise include:

High standards of young people’s achievement;

Good quality of youth work;

Good strategic leadership;

Excellent resources, including a fleet of vehicles providing arts and outdoor education facilities (see ‘Notes to News Editors’);

Good provision for young people, including youth centres, detached and outreach work;

Successful partnership working.

The inspectors found that a wide range of 13 to 19-year-olds from Derbyshire take part in youth work programmes – including increasing numbers from disadvantaged communities and those who have not traditionally participated in youth work. Others who benefit include young people who have previously had difficulties engaging in education and have difficult personal lives. 

Morale is good among staff who show a high level of commitment to their work, said the inspectors.

Welcoming the report, Councillor Bob Janes, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community services, said: “This is an excellent report which shows we are offering young people in Derbyshire a good quality service. Staff are well trained and highly committed and the report reflects that.

“Obviously we are very pleased with the report which has given the service a huge boost but we are not complacent and we continue to work hard to maintain and improve standards.

“Young people in Derbyshire deserve a good service and Derbyshire County Council is working very hard to give them that.” 

An increasing number of Derbyshire young people are using the youth service; up from 11 per cent of 13 to 19-year-olds in 2001 to more than 23 per cent today.

The introduction of six mobile units as well as the mobile climbing wall and the skate and ride unit is helping encourage more people to get involved.

Coun Janes added: “I am pleased the inspectors were able to see the wide range of work we are doing. The mobile units are certainly having an impact.

“We continue to develop an excellent range of services which we hope will encourage even more people to use the service.”

The inspectors pinpoint a number of areas for development, including:

Involving young people more in reviewing their learning;

Building on the work being done to promote good race relations;

Improving still further work with Connexions and the voluntary sector.

Coun Janes added: “The inspectors acknowledge we are doing very well in many areas but have highlighted others to help us create even better provision for Derbyshire young people.

“Our staff are committed to ensuring we do this and are already working hard to address these areas.”

As many children go riding out across the county on their new bikes this Christmas Derbyshire County Council is urging parents to make an important addition to the Christmas list.

For a fraction of the cost of a new bike parents can make sure their children’s journeys are safe ones by buying them a cycle helmet. A new helmet will usually last at least five years and could save a child from a serious head injury in a fall or accident.

Cycle helmets are available from accessory shops and retailers. When buying a new helmet people should:

Look for a recognised safety marking such as BS EN 1078:1997 (European standard), BS 6863:1989 (British standard being replaced by the European one), SNELL B.95 (American standard)
Remember if the helmet is knocked badly or in an accident it must be replaced as its effectiveness will be seriously reduced

Check it is worn properly – it should not cover the ears or obstruct vision, it must be a snug fit and secure to the head sitting just above the eyebrows and not tilted back or tipped forwards and the straps should be fastened with only enough room for two fingers to be inserted between chin and strap.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for public protection and transport Councillor Walter Burrows said: “Many children will be getting a new bike for Christmas this year and we urge parents to think ahead by making sure they have a properly fitted cycle helmet before they go out on the roads.

“It is also worth remembering the Be Bright Be Seen message if going out in the early mornings or after dark by checking all lights are working, the bike has reflectors and by wearing some form of bright clothing.”

You can contact the road safety team for advice on cycle helmets and cycle safety on 01629 580000 extension 7064 or by emailing roadsafety@derbyshire.gov.uk. 

• Made even better use of its resources
  
  
• Achieved the top three star rating for education 
  
  
• Secured better transport, waste disposal and planning services 
  
  
• Kept its top rating for social services with further improvements to services for children and adults
  
  
• Further strengthened its work with partners.
  
  Council Leader John Williams said: “Not only have we been rated as excellent for the last three years - the only council in the East Midlands to have done so – we’ve consistently improved our services. 
  
  “I believe we really are living up to our vision to improve life for local people. We’re making even better use of our resources and the inspectors confirm we’re set to make more improvements.”
  
  He went on to add: “We have an excellent and committed workforce, strong management and clear direction. 
  
  “We’ve listened to local people and shaped our services to deliver their priorities. I’m confident that we will build on this performance for many years to come.”
  
  Comprehensive Performance Assessments were introduced by the Audit Commission in 2002. Each assessment scores councils on the quality of services being delivered and their ability to improve. Derbyshire County Council has secured an excellent rating since the system was introduced.
  
  Read the full report by clicking here (opens in a new window).  

Are you a keen walker? A leisurely rambler? Or do you just take to your feet to get to work or for the school run?

Do you cycle? Or maybe horse ride? Or perhaps you don’t do any but would still like to have your say on the county’s paths and trails – well now’s your chance. And you could be in with the chance to win £100 into the bargain.

Derbyshire County Council is producing a plan of what the authority does to improve, maintain and provide rights of way. And we need YOU to tell us about your experiences of not just paths and trails but also of greenways, canal paths, cycle paths – in fact anything you use to get around that cannot be classed as a pavement.The feedback you give us will be used when the county council draws up its Rights of Way Improvement Plan – a document which all authorities must produce under strict guidelines from Government.

Completed questionnaires will also go into a free prize draw with £100 prize money up for grabs. The plan will look at how we maintain and improve the present network in Derbyshire as well as assessing future needs for people who use the county’s 3,500 miles of rights of way and other paths and trails. 

And that doesn’t just mean your keen walker, avid cyclist or horse enthusiast – that also includes people who use – or might in the future use - any of the county’s paths or trails to get from A to B whether to work, school, the gym or anywhere else in the county.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community services Councillor Bob Janes said: “The Rights of Way Improvement Plan is particularly pertinent to Derbyshire as we have an extensive network of paths, cycle paths, trails and greenways which the county council provides and maintains. 

“We value the opinion of the people who use these paths whether for recreational use or out of necessity – and would encourage them to take time out to fill in the survey. We would also like to hear from people who don’t use the paths much – if at all – as to how we can encourage them to do so.”

So don’t delay. Have your say and play a part in shaping the future of the county’s paths and trails. The Rights of Way survey is available now and should be returned by January 17.

It can be filled in online by clicking here (opens in a new window) or for a paper copy ring the Derbyshire call centre on 0845 605 8058.  

Government inspectors today (Fri) praised Derbyshire County Council’s youth service for providing the county’s young people with a top quality service.

Ninety-six per cent of youth work observed by the Ofsted inspectors was satisfactory or better – 81 per cent being good or better.

The standard of achievement among young people is also very high with the quality of youth work being good overall and sometimes very good, the inspectors concluded.

The county council also works well with other organisations to increase the range of activities available to teenagers, they said.

A team from the Office for Standards in Education spent five days touring the county’s youth service in October, looking at all aspects of its work.

It awarded the service a “good” rating – only the second of 31 local authority youth services inspected to have achieved this high mark.

Areas highlighted by the inspectors for praise include:

High standards of young people’s achievement;

Good quality of youth work;

Good strategic leadership;

Excellent resources, including a fleet of vehicles providing arts and outdoor education facilities (see ‘Notes to News Editors’);

Good provision for young people, including youth centres, detached and outreach work;

Successful partnership working.

The inspectors found that a wide range of 13 to 19-year-olds from Derbyshire take part in youth work programmes – including increasing numbers from disadvantaged communities and those who have not traditionally participated in youth work. Others who benefit include young people who have previously had difficulties engaging in education and have difficult personal lives.

Morale is good among staff who show a high level of commitment to their work, said the inspectors. Welcoming the report, Councillor Bob Janes, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community services, said: “This is an excellent report which shows we are offering young people in Derbyshire a good quality service. Staff are well trained and highly committed and the report reflects that.

“Obviously we are very pleased with the report which has given the service a huge boost but we are not complacent and we continue to work hard to maintain and improve standards.

“Young people in Derbyshire deserve a good service and Derbyshire County Council is working very hard to give them that.”

An increasing number of Derbyshire young people are using the youth service; up from 11 per cent of 13 to 19-year-olds in 2001 to more than 23 per cent today.

The introduction of six mobile units as well as the mobile climbing wall and the skate and ride unit is helping encourage more people to get involved.

Coun Janes added: “I am pleased the inspectors were able to see the wide range of work we are doing. The mobile units are certainly having an impact.

“We continue to develop an excellent range of services which we hope will encourage even more people to use the service.”

The inspectors pinpoint a number of areas for development, including:

Involving young people more in reviewing their learning;

Building on the work being done to promote good race relations;

Improving still further work with Connexions and the voluntary sector.

Coun Janes added: “The inspectors acknowledge we are doing very well in many areas but have highlighted others to help us create even better provision for Derbyshire young people.

“Our staff are committed to ensuring we do this and are already working hard to address these areas.” 

Derbyshire County Council will be driving the Christmas drink drive message home from next week (Monday December 13) with a series of radio adverts, bus-back advertising and posters.

Adverts will run on High Peak radio, Peak and Ram FM with posters and leaflets carrying the ‘Don’t Drink and Drive’ message distributed to work places, councils, libraries and pubs and clubs throughout the county. Bus-back posters will also be displayed countywide on the Trent and Stagecoach fleets.

The ‘be a mate to your mate’ message will urge people to not let friends and relatives drive if they have had a drink. The posters will also carry the police’s 24 hour line hotline number for people to call when they suspect they have spotted a drink driver. Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for public protection and transport Councillor Walter Burrows said: “A drink drive crash is no accident.

“As road users we have to take responsibility for our choices by making the decision not to mix drinking and driving and by exercising our right to safety as passengers by not getting into a car with someone who has had a drink.

“The festive period is a time for enjoying ourselves but drinking and driving should not be a part of that.”

Community groups have unveiled the results of a Derbyshire County Council-run social history project recalling life in the 1960s.

From Smoke to Grass focused on the reminiscences of local people about the move of Manchester people to a purpose-built council estate in Gamesley during the slum clearances of the early 1960s.

The year-long project was organised by the authority’s adult community education service, supported by the libraries and heritage service, and gave local people the opportunity to recall their experiences using a variety of different mediums.

The project was funded by a £24,970 Lottery grant secured from the Local Heritage Initiative. As part of the project community groups have produced:

Designs for three wrought iron gates for Gamesley’s football club, Early Excellence Centre and bowling club

Three stained glass panels

Fabric panels to be hung in local schools, sheltered housing and Gamesley Youth Club

A book called The Manchester Overspills compiled using verbal accounts and photographs of the era

A project logo

Councillor Bob Janes, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community services, said: “The range of materials produced by the residents of Gamesley is very impressive and creative.

“This project has enabled the local community to bring history alive and create a permanent reminder of an important part of Gamesley’s heritage.

“People of all ages have been involved in the project and it has brought the whole community together.”

All the work produced as part of the project was showcased at an event in Gamesley Library attended by Councillor Janes and Councillor Charles Cutting, chair of Derbyshire County Council.

Copies of the book The Manchester Overspills, which cost £3.50, are on sale at:

Gamesley Library in Grindleford Grove.

Bay Tree Books in High Street West

Glossop Volunteer Bureau in High Street West

Morgans Newsagents in Glossop Road

Gamesley Early Excellence Centre

A full history of the project can be seen by visiting the Local Heritage Initiative website at http://www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/east_midlands/derbyshire/making_history/index.html (opens in a new window) 

Businesses based in Derbyshire County Council-owned industrial estates are to be encouraged to take advantage of broadband technology thanks to a new grant scheme.

The authority successfully bid for Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership (DDEP) funding to help make improvements to the authority’s older estates.

Now premises established in these units in Alfreton, Breaston, Buxton, Derby, Glossop, Heanor, Ilkeston and Swadlincote can apply for cash to take advantage of the latest broadband technologies.

Grants of up to £400 will be made available towards the cost of installation, connection and initial rental payments. People can bid for money from the £25,000 pot until the end of February.

The grant will be payable upon proof of purchase of a broadband connection and evidence of a monthly rental contract.

Councillor Geoff Carlile, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We want county businesses to be able to access the internet in the easiest possible way to keep their companies up-to-date and competitive.

“Increasing our support for premises based in the authority’s industrial estates is just one aspect of our work to support businesses, strengthen the economy and promote employment of local people.”

The access to broadband is part of a wider £386,000 scheme put together in October with £193,000 of county council funding, match-funded by the DDEP grant.

Under the scheme the industrial estates will be renovated, which will include improvements to signage and crime prevention measures.

The county council teamed up with BT to launch the Derbyshire Broadband Partnership earlier this year, which has seen exchanges enabled in Tideswell, Baslow, and Hathersage, with Darley Dale due to go “live” on 22 December.

For further information about the grants for businesses based in authority-owned industrial units contact 01629 58000 x 7245.

A one stop shop to give pupils and parents in the Shirebrook area advice on any education issues has been launched by Derbyshire County Council.

The Shirebrook Education Project will see the authority’s education social worker Marie Fidler operate an open support base where young people and their families can visit for advice and support.

The idea is that by setting up an informal and friendly centre more people will be able to access services, which in turn will help to improve the attendance rates, self esteem and the attainment level of pupils in the Shirebrook area.

The help on offer will include advice on:

School attendance issues

Issues about the transition from infant to junior or primary to secondary schools

Admission to schools in the area

Increasing the self-confidence of young people

Motivating young people to attend school

How to fill in forms for issues like school transport and free school meals

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “This is about bringing together a variety of agencies to address issues which can contribute to some pupils failing to achieve their true potential.

“Together we will work to improve attendance levels and provide young people with the help they need to assist with their personal development.

“Every day a pupil misses at school has an effect on their education so the support agencies will work in a non-judgemental way to work with parents and students to overcome problems. This service will benefit the whole Shirebrook community.”

The project involves the families of pupils who attend Shirebrook Community School, Anthony Bek Primary, Brookfield Primary, Langwith Bassett Primary, Model Village Primary, Park Infant, Park Junior and Whaley Thorns Primary schools.

It is funded by the Bolsover Local Strategic Partnership and Derbyshire County Council. It also involves the North East Derbyshire Primary Care Trust, Derbyshire Police and the Sure Start project for Creswell, Langwith, Whaley Thorns and Shirebrook.

It is hoped that the project will have a positive impact on reducing truancy rates and also in encouraging parents not to take their children out of school for family holidays.

Other activities planned include:

Identifying and working with the families of pupils who have a history of poor attendance to tackle the issues contributing to it

Carrying out projects to address punctuality problems

Carrying out truancy sweeps in conjunction with the police

The project will be supported by advertising, leaflets and displays of relevant material in the Shirebrook area. Information will also be given out through school assemblies, at parent information sessions and in one-to-one interviews.

It is also hoped that a poster competition can be organised to encourage young people to play an active part in the process. 

Get OnBoard and get up to date information on public transport in Derbyshire.

The third edition of Derbyshire County Council’s quarterly 16-page newsletter aims to encourage people to use public transport and contains information to make travelling around Derbyshire by bus and train as easy and stress-free as possible.

The latest edition also has important news about the swap from the old style travel pass to the new Gold Card for people over 60 and disabled people - along with information on if you qualify and how to apply.

There are also updates on bus station and rail station improvements, community transport news as well as information on the different types of travel tickets available and useful numbers for train and bus times.

Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for public protection and transport Councillor Walter Burrows said: “We hope the latest edition of OnBoard will prove useful to people who use public transport and let those who don’t see how easy it is to enjoy the county while leaving the car at home.”

OnBoard is available free on board buses and from bus company offices, post offices, libraries and district and borough council offices.

Derbyshire County Council continues its bus shelter grant scheme with the approval of funding for six new and replacement shelters.

Under the scheme the county council funds half the cost of new and replacement shelters with the other half being picked up by the relevant district or parish council. New shelters will be placed at Newbold, Wythburn Road junction with Keswick Drive; Brimington, Devon Drive junction with High Street and Loundsley Green/Cutthome Road junction with Mendip Crescent.

Replacement shelters will be placed at Sawmills, Ripley Road; Nether Heage, Brook Street and on Derby Road in Stanley Village.

Lucky Lily Moakes has hit the jackpot by scooping £100 in a competition aimed at making Derbyshire County Council’s new Gold Card discount scheme for older people even better!

More than 500 people entered the prize draw by filling in a survey included in the first Gold Card directory published earlier this year - and Lily’s was the first name pulled out of the hat.

Mrs Moakes (74), of Newbold, Chesterfield, said: “I think Gold Card is a brilliant scheme for older people who may be on a pension and the directory is really interesting and useful.

“I’ve saved money on buying Christmas presents for my grandchildren with my card this year and sometimes leave the car at home now when I go shopping to get my half fare bus travel.”

Derbyshire County Council launched Gold Card for older and disabled people in April in partnership with Derby City Council and all the district and borough councils.

Anyone aged over 60 can get a Gold Card which entitles them to free or half fare bus and train travel and discounts of up to 10 per cent at more than 1,000 shops, pubs, restaurants and other businesses completely free of charge. People of any age with mobility, sight, hearing, mental ill health or learning disabilities may also qualify for a card.

The survey asked cardholders for comments about the directory, how useful and easy it is to use and suggestions about what they would like to see in future editions. It also asked for general opinions about the new scheme.

County council leader Councillor John Williams, who presented Mrs Moakes with her £100 cheque, said: “We were delighted with the response we had to the survey and that the feedback was so positive. It will be invaluable in helping us make Gold Card even better.

“We’d like to thank everyone who took part and assure them their views and suggestions will be considered in our future plans to develop what is already proving to be a tremendously popular scheme.”

Of the 500 people who took part in the Gold Card survey 98.6 per cent rated the scheme ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ useful.

Golf Card is jointly financed and administered by Derbyshire County Council, Amber Valley Borough Council, the District of Bolsover, Chesterfield Borough Council, Derby City Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Erewash Borough Council, High Peak Borough Council, North East Derbyshire District Council and South Derbyshire District Council.

The free Gold Card directory lists details of outlets where discounts are offered and is available from district and borough council offices and libraries.

Gold Card application forms are available from district and borough council officer, libraries and some post offices or by contacting Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058. For more general information visit http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/goldcard (opens in a new window)

Residents are being urged to think about keeping themselves and their property safe while having a good time over Christmas and New Year.

Derbyshire’s eight community safety partnerships - which work in Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire - have joined forces to issue a few guidelines to help people avoid becoming a victim of crime over the festive season.

They include tips on personal and property safety and staying safe on the roads.

Derbyshire County Council cabinet member for public protection and transport Councillor Walter Burrows said: “Many people have such a lot on their minds over the festive period that everyday issues such as home and personal safety can get put on the back burner. “This is just a timely reminder that even simple common-sense things like remembering to leave security lights on when you’re away or out at night, storing presents out of view or keeping your bag zipped up while shopping only take a second, but are extremely effective crime prevention measures.

“Our eight community safety partnerships are all working towards locally agreed crime reduction targets and we hope the guidelines they’ve issued can help ensure we all enjoy a happy Christmas and New Year this year.”

Stay safe while Christmas shopping:

Think about where you park – choose a well-lit street or car park where you and your car will be visible to passers-by even when it’s dark.

Don’t leave purchases in the car.

Make sure bags are zipped and not easy to snatch - and don’t make it easy for pickpockets.

Take care when withdrawing money from cash machines and when using your PIN in-store.

Keeping your home safe:

Don’t leave your presents under the tree – keep them out of view or close the curtains.

If you’re out at night set security lights to come on. If you’re away over Christmas and New Year cancel milk and newspaper deliveries.

Make sure decorative lights are wired safely and don’t leave candles unattended.

While you’re out celebrating:

Keep your bag, purse, mobile phone or wallet secure.

Enjoy yourself, but drink sensibly. Don’t ruin Christmas by ending up in a fight.

Don’t leave your drink unattended - it could get spiked.

Don’t drink and drive - arrange for transport home or designate a non-drinking driver. Avoid dark isolated areas if walking alone and carry a personal alarm if you have one.

Be considerate - don’t let your celebrations disrupt or disturb others.

Take extra care when driving in snow and ice. Check tyre pressures and fluid levels. Keep a shovel, a warm coat and boots in the car in case you get stranded.

Derbyshire’s eight community partnerships are based on district and borough council areas and are made up of local councils, the police, fire and rescue service, probation service, primary care trusts, the Drug and Alcohol Action Team and other public, private and voluntary agencies.

For more information and tips on how to keep yourself and your property safe visit http://www.saferderbyshire.gov.uk (opens in a new window)

Derbyshire County Council has been named one of the best public transport authorities in the country. The council’s passenger transport service has been awarded two stars – out of a possible three – following an independent inspection by auditors KPMG.

Their report - which looked at bus services subsidised by the council - rated the service “good” with promising prospects of improvement.

Now the authority has been awarded almost £700,000 over the next two years to improve the service further after reaching tough targets agreed with the Government for increasing passenger numbers.

An integrated transport manager is also to be employed as part of recommendations made in the report to bring all the council’s public transport services together.

Councillor Walter Burrows, the council’s cabinet member for public protection and transport, said: “While we are delighted that the service has been recognised as among the best in the country we will not be resting on our laurels.

“We will continue to work with bus companies, as well as other organisations like community transport, to provide an effective and integrated public transport network which can be accessed by as many people as possible across the county.”

The report found that the number of bus passengers was increasing steadily in Derbyshire, against a national decline in bus users, and found high levels of satisfaction among travellers. In 2003/4, there were more than 43m bus passenger journeys in Derbyshire.

The county council works closely with bus and rail operators, its own departments such as social services to provide specialist transport and other organisations like community transport across the county to provide an integrated network of passenger transport.

Work to promote the service through information on the county council’s website – www.derbyshire.gov.uk/buses - as well as time-tables and leaflets was also praised.

While the work to promote public transport – particularly through the council’s b_line card offering young people cut-price travel and discounts at over 650 businesses - was highlighted in the report as “good practice”.

Councillor Burrows added: “We work hard to ensure that people can get hold of all the information they need about bus services around the county and indeed, public satisfaction with the service is second to none in the East Midlands.”

Education services provided by Derbyshire County Council are among the best in the country and continue to improve, according to a report published by Ofsted today (Wednesday).

The Government’s inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) concluded that Derbyshire is a good local education authority which has many strengths. Unusually Ofsted made no key recommendations for improvement.

Authorities are marked on a scale from 1 to 7, with 1 being very good and 7 very poor. Derbyshire received a level 2 ‘good’ rating, an improvement of one grade since the last inspection in 2000. None of the 14 councils inspected so far have received the top rating.

Areas picked out for praise include:

The authority placing education as a major priority

Pupils attainment continuing to improve, especially at key stage 1

Support services being well focused on school improvement

Priorities for improvements in education being focused on areas of greatest need and supported by well targeted resources

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “We are delighted with the report, which shows we are a first rate authority where standards in schools are rising, the quality of leadership and support provided to schools by Derbyshire County Council is a particular strength and the overall standard of education in the community continues to get better.

“It is very pleasing that the Ofsted team commented on the very strong relationships between Derbyshire County Council and our schools. This confirms our strong view that the delivery of high quality education to young people is a partnership between us and Derbyshire schools.

“The report found no unsatisfactory areas of performance and over half of all the areas inspected were found to be good. However, we are not complacent and already have plans in place to ensure there is a continuous improvement.”

Inspectors found “highly satisfactory progress” in all areas identified as needing improvement in the 2000 inspection. Support for special educational needs has improved by two grades from satisfactory to good, ICT provision in schools went up by two grades from unsatisfactory to highly satisfactory and support for school governors and the provision of property services both rose by one grade from unsatisfactory to satisfactory.

Councillor Charles added: “The report is a tribute to the highly skilled, dedicated and hard working staff of Derbyshire County Council and particularly to the excellent leadership of Roger Taylor, the chief education officer.”

To improve further Ofsted has made seven recommendations. These include:

Taking action to appoint more LEA governors to bring the authority in line with national averages

Reducing the number of exclusions of pupils with special educational needs

Improving the action plan for shaping education and training opportunities for 14 to 19-year-olds

Lead inspector Brian Blake said: “There is a keen determination at Derbyshire County Council to improve further, especially in areas that support the most vulnerable pupils. The capacity of the authority to improve is good.

“The very good working relationships between Derbyshire County Council and its schools result in a service that monitors and challenges schools in an effective way.

“Derbyshire County Council has continued to make small but important gains in increasing the gap between its performance and national averages in many areas.”

The inspection took place over eight days in September and October.

Nine pre-schools throughout Derbyshire are celebrating after receiving a prestigious accreditation for their high professional standards in childcare.

The Accreditation Scheme of the Pre-School Learning Alliance is an optional programme which helps childcare premises further improve the quality of education and care offered to youngsters under five.

Derbyshire County Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service supported the pre-schools in seeking the status and recognition that the scheme offers by providing financial help and ongoing monitoring visits to advise on the accreditation process.

Those taking part included:

The Avenue Nursery, Dronfield

Buxworth Pre-School, Buxworth

Midway Pre-School, Swadlincote

The Community Pre-School, West Hallam

Gosforth Pre-School, Dronfield

Northfield Nursery, Dronfield

Quarndon Playgroup, Quarndon, Derby

Stonebroom Pre-School, Stonebroom

Swanwick Pre-School, Swanwick

To receive the accreditation each pre-school had to successfully complete an assessment booklet, gathering evidence of the standards of their provision.

This was followed by a visit from an independent accreditation assessor to examine each aspect of the pre-school’s provision and look for examples of good practice.

Councillor Bob Janes, cabinet member for community services, attended a celebration to mark the pre-schools’ new status, which takes about 18 months to achieve.

Councillor Janes said: “Achieving this standard is a fantastic reflection on Derbyshire’s pre-schools as it goes beyond what is expected by statutory inspections such as Ofsted.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone who has worked hard to earn this accreditation – it is great to know that the county’s youngsters are being given the best learning and development opportunities.”

Under-used rooms at two schools are to be converted by Derbyshire County Council to create hi-tech computer facilities for pupils.

The authority’s cabinet has agreed to spend £63,000 carrying out the improvements at Holme Hall Primary School in Chesterfield and Darley Dale Primary School.

Holme Hall Primary School will have a large open-plan area turned into an enclosed ICT suite in a £49,000 scheme. Twenty computers will be networked together and linked to an interactive whiteboard to enable the whole class to be taught at the same time. The school will also buy two computers to carry out digital work, such as photography.

A further £14,000 will be spent on upgrading an ICT suite that has been created in a small classroom at Darley Dale Primary School. The suite contains 16 laptop computers and the new money will pay for an interactive whiteboard and a colour printer. New lights and power points will also be installed.

Both schools will also introduce a range of security measures to prevent the equipment being stolen, including locks and property marking.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “This work is about making the best possible use of space in schools.

“These facilities will enable both schools to make greater use of computers in all subjects and not just IT lessons.

“In today’s society it is crucial that young people get the opportunity to start using computers from an early age to develop the skills that they will use throughout their lives.”

The work will also help Derbyshire County Council to meet Government targets for reducing the number of surplus places in schools.

Under the targets all schools are required to have less than 25 per cent of their potential places vacant. Turning under used rooms into school or community facilities removes spare places, while improving facilities for pupils and staff at the same time.

The authority has already spent £235,000 this financial year on converting under-used rooms at schools around the county. A further £202,000 has been set aside to convert more rooms by the end of March 2006.

A research study carried out by a teacher and foster care support worker is to help looked after children perform better at school.

Shirley Robinson, a Derbyshire County Council teacher and looked after children education support worker, investigated how children in care can improve their grades as part of a part-time Doctorate in Education.

Her findings recommended that foster parents should be able to access training and workshops alongside teachers and social workers so they can get involved in helping children’s learning.

The county council, which funded Shirley’s doctorate, has a dedicated team of teachers for looked after children, who as part of their role help prepare and support foster carers for their role in a child’s education when a young person is placed in their care. Ongoing support and advice is also offered.

Shirley, who works in the authority’s Looked After Children Education Service (LACES), said: “It can be difficult for foster carers who have been out of the education system for some time to understand how they can support the children in their care.

“Workshops and training mean they can play a bigger part and feel involved in the process.” Training development courses for teachers, social workers and foster carers focus on topics such as how children learn, breaking down teacher “jargon” and assisting children with special educational needs. Carers have also teamed up with social workers and schools to support pupils’ personal education plans.

Key Government targets ask that 70 per cent of Year 11 looked after children achieve one A* to G grade GCSE. Derbyshire’s results 2004 results exceeded this target with 72 per cent of looked after children receiving one A* to G grade.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for social care and health, Councillor Anne Western (pictured right), congratulated Shirley on her work when she formally received a bound copy of the study.

Councillor Western said: “Derbyshire County Council is committed to improving opportunities and achievement of its looked after children and young people and we sponsored this study to support this aim.

“The findings will help our social workers, foster carers and teachers to give looked after pupils the backing they need to fulfil their potential.”

LACES – formerly known as Step Up 2000 – supports 500 young people and 350 carers across Derbyshire.

To find out more about becoming a foster carer call the 24-hour Derbyshire fostering helpline 01629 77 22 11, visit the Derbyshire County Council fostering website http://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/fostering  (opens in a new window)   or email fostering@derbyshire.gov.uk

The success and achievements of Derbyshire’s primary school children are highlighted in national test results for 11-year-olds published by the Government today (Thursday).

The league tables show that Derbyshire schools are performing well across the board – and slightly better than schools around the country.

Two schools in particular have done well – coming in the top 100 most improved schools in the country. Eureka Primary in Swadlincote is at number three in the table and Grange Primary in Long Eaton is at number 53.

The tables, which compare schools’ Key Stage 2 test results, show that the number of Derbyshire 11-year-olds achieving the benchmark of level 4 in maths and science is higher than the national figure with results in English matching the national average.

In Derbyshire (excluding Derby City):

78% have reached the standard in English compared to 78% nationally.

77% have achieved the level in maths compared to 74% nationally.

88% have reached the standard in science compared to 86% nationally.

Pupils in Derbyshire have made significant progress in the last three years and results are again up compared to last year.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, is pleased by the results which compare well with the county’s own targets. However, he is urging parents to treat the performance tables with an element of caution. 

He said: “Pupils, teachers, support staff, parents and governors all deserve a great deal of praise for these excellent results. Standards are higher than last year and show steady progress across the board.

“I am pleased that such good progress is being made and we will continue to provide support to our schools so that further improvements are continued. In particular we will target those schools which most need to boost their levels of attainment.

“However, as in previous years we would urge parents to exercise a note of caution and not look at these results in cold isolation. League tables are only one indicator of how a school is performing. It is important that parents look at everything a school provides, not only league table results.”

Further details about the national picture, including results for individual schools, are available from the Government on its education website at http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway (opens in a new window)

Travel in Derbyshire – whether by bus or in the car – couldn’t be better as Derbyshire County Council has been named the best local transport planning authority in England.

The county council - with a top score of 96 per cent – was found by the Department of Transport to be the best performing authority when it came to delivering road schemes, maintenance and public transport in 2003/04. The authority has now been invited to apply for Centre of Excellence status which – if awarded – means we will share our knowledge and expertise to help other local transport authorities deliver their own high quality transport improvements.

The announcement came as the county council also heard it will be getting £18.6m of Government funding to improve its road and public transport network in 2005/06. The news gives the authority the green light to continue with its ongoing programme of improvements and repairs as well as develop new initiatives.

In Derbyshire the money will go towards funding maintenance, new public transport initiatives and town centre schemes. The £18.6m will be split as follows:

Road repair and maintenance (£11.1m) - To maintain roads and pavements, carry out major bridge improvements and continue repairs to minor roads and pavements in rural areas

Small schemes (£6.2m) - Including improvements to the public transport network, cycle and road networks, road safety schemes, speed reduction measures and improvements for cyclists and pedestrians

Derby Joint Local Transport Plan (£350,000) - For the county council’s part in providing small transport schemes under the joint plan

Former trunk roads (£950,000) – To support work on roads which used to be the responsibility of the Highways Agency.

County council cabinet member for environment and highways Councillor Brian Lucas said: “It is great news to be named the best performing authority in England when it comes to local transport planning and it recognises all the hard work the county council has put in over the last year.

“The £18.6m is very welcome and will allow us to continue improving roads and transport into the final phase of the 2001/02 – 2005/06 Local Transport Plan.”

Top class food was on the menu when a Derbyshire County Council chef cooked her way into the regional finals of a national cookery competition.

Louise Agg, who heads up a team of school caterers at New Mills School and Sixth Form Centre, won a highly-commended award in the School Chef of the Year competition with her two-course meal with a local twist.

Featuring local ingredients – including organic lamb from a local butcher - the menu also had a Peak District theme and featured a model of the Torrs Millennium Walkway in its presentation.

Louise, 32, who lives in New Mills, narrowly missed out on a place in the national finals of the contest run by the Local Authority Caterers Association but she is still pleased with her achievement.

“It was a very close-run thing,” she said. “It took the judges, who included children, two hours to decide who was the final winner.”

The catering unit supervisor had an hour-and-a-half to produce a meal for four costing 80p a head. It had to be suitable for an 11-year-old and feature products by the sponsors.

Her menu consisted of:

Derbyshire Spring Lamb Stroganoff with Twin Peak rice;

A Sett salad and Goyt Side Meadows vegetable medley;

Millstone flapjack with White Peak and Dark Peak Chocolate sauce.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said he was delighted by Louise’s success.

He said: “Louise is one of our most inspiring chefs and with the help of her team cooks up great food for pupils at New Mills every day.

“It is a tribute to her that she did so well in this competition and I hope that she does even better next year.

“I am proud of all our catering staff who cook high-quality, nutritious food for schoolchildren in Derbyshire all year round.”

This is the first time Louise has entered a cookery competition and admits she was nervous competing against seven other school cooks in the regional finals at Barnsley College on November 17.

The model of the millennium walkway for her marketing table was made by pupils and staff at the school where she has been catering supervisor for a year.

Before that the mum-of-two worked for nine months for Derbyshire County Council’s catering service as an assistant cook at St Thomas More Catholic School in Buxton and is fully qualified in catering and hospitality management.

Louise says that children at the school enjoy the food she cooks and will often ask what’s on the menu. “I focus on healthy eating and what they like to eat,” she said. “We have curry days and I also do a breakfast service.

“I love working with the kids. They know they are going to get something special when they come to eat.” Louise’s nine-strong team of assistant cooks and catering assistants prepare up to 1,000 meals a day, including breakfasts, snacks and lunch.

Derbyshire County Council’s catering service feeds 30,000 primary school pupils and serves more than 8,500 secondary school lunches every day.

Listening to local people is one of the qualities that has helped make Derbyshire County Council an ‘excellent’ authority – and residents’ views are set to shape its services once again over the next four years.

The council has commissioned a MORI residents’ survey to interview 2,000 people selected at random from across the county between January and March. They will be interviewed face-to-face on a wide range of issues including:

Quality of life and what it’s like to live in Derbyshire.

The most important Derbyshire County Council services.

How people like to get in touch with the council.

The best services - and where there is room for improvement.

How well the council communicates with residents.

Responses will be analysed to help draw up the authority’s next Council Plan 2005 to 2009 – the blueprint which sets out the services to be delivered, future priorities and key performance targets against which performance can be measured.

Feedback will also help shape the Derbyshire Community Strategy 2006 to 2009 – the document which guides how the authority works with its partners.

Derbyshire County Council leader Councillor John Williams said: “This MORI survey is an invaluable opportunity for people to tell us what it’s like to live in Derbyshire, what we’re doing well and where we could do better.

“We try to be a listening council – it’s one of the strengths we have been praised for by the Government - and we’re committed to continuing that good work. “We want to make sure we’re delivering the services our residents tell us they want and one of the best ways of doing this is by bringing in the experts to ask the right questions. “We’ll listen carefully to the answers and make sure they help shape our future plans.”

Derbyshire County Council has retained the highest possible ‘excellent’ status for the quality of its services and the way they are delivered each year since the Government introduced its new system to monitor performance in 2002. One of the areas tested is how well authorities consult with their residents.

The council’s last MORI residents’ survey was carried out in 2002.

Catch up with Derbyshire’s own Coronation Street star Bruno Langley, have your say on the issues that matter to you, get some great ideas for a fun-packed Christmas and win a Playstation 2 - all this, plus lots more, is in the new b_line magazine out now!

Derbyshire County Council has just published the seventh issue of the mag which supports its popular b_line youth discount and half-fare travel card scheme.

As well as light-hearted news and competitions the 36-page colour mag is packed full of advice for all 11 to 18-year-old cardholders such as tips on saving money and getting the best deals with their card, great offers and travel info as well as news, views and information on important issues such as how to become a school b_line rep, your guide to staying inside the law or getting that dream Saturday job.

There’s also a list of the 650 participating shops and services so cardholders can see who offers b_line discounts, music, games and gadget news, the chance to win a bag of Robbie goodies and tips on how to stay fit over the Christmas holidays.

Derbyshire County Council leader Councillor John Williams said: “Responses from cardholders shows our b_line magazine is as popular as ever so we’re delighted to issue the latest edition. It’s an excellent way of passing on information to b_liners as well as helping them get the most from their card.”

More than 55,000 copies of the latest edition of the b_line magazine are now available through Derbyshire schools, colleges, youth centres, libraries and from b_line discounters. Copies are also available by phoning Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058.

All 11 to 18-year-olds who live in Derbyshire are automatically issued with b_line cards through their school, as long as it is run by Derbyshire County Council or Derby City Council, or through their college. Youngsters aged 11 to 13, who are already eligible for child fare travel, receive a b_line1 which offers cut price deals in shops, with local businesses and leisure centres. Cards can currently be used at more than 600 outlets across the county. Those aged 14 to 18 receive a b_line2 card which provides half fare travel as well as all the other discounts. For more information about b_line, or if you are a business who would like to sign up, visit the website (opens in a new window) or ring Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058. 

Council tax increases will stay low for the third year running, according to Derbyshire County Council Leader John Williams.

The news follows the release today (Thursday 2 December) of provisional council spending figures for the coming financial year.

Early indications show that the county council will get an extra £25.9 million (5.8%) –its share of the Government’s above-inflation increase in local authority funding levels. “This is a much better settlement than we expected,” commented county council Leader John Williams.

“It means we will be able to continue our record of setting one of the lowest council tax increases of any county council in the country.”

As well as securing enough cash to maintain current levels of service, there will be extra cash for growth in some service areas. In addition the council is committed to achieving government-set efficiency targets of almost £20 million to plough back into local services.

“This is great news for our council tax payers and the county council,” added Councillor Williams.

“It means we can continue to deliver high quality services that really are improving life for local people.”

Over the next few weeks the council will look at all areas of spending to identify efficiency savings and those services where extra cash is needed to meet growing demand.

Derbyshire schools today (Tuesday) received a major boost after the Government announced a multi-million pound cash injection to transform the condition of buildings.

The Government has yet to announce exactly how much money Derbyshire County Council will receive in the third wave of its Building Schools for the Future programme but millions of pounds will be available to rebuild, refurbish or improve schools in 2007/08.

The authority is hoping it will receive the full £73.35 million that it bid for in October 2003 to rebuild Bolsover School, Shirebrook School, Heritage Community School in Clowne, Stubbin Wood School in Langwith and two Staveley schools – Springwell Community School and Netherthorpe School.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “This is brilliant news for everyone in Derbyshire.

“Our initial focus will be on improving the six schools included in our funding bid but this is the start of a programme that will eventually improve all our schools.

“It is easier for pupils to achieve their full potential if they are working in well designed, efficient and modern buildings with the latest facilities.

“We look forward to meeting up with the Government to discuss in more detail our needs and to put forward our very strong business case showing how crucial these new buildings will be.

“The Government is to be congratulated for having the long term foresight to tackle the condition of secondary schools and also to look at the way that secondary education is delivered.”

Building Schools for the Future is a Government programme to modernise all secondary schools in the country in 15 ‘waves’, starting in 2005/06. Schools will be rebuilt, refurbished or improved using a mixture of private and public funding.

Today’s announcement means that the Government will give Derbyshire County Council its first funding in 2007/08 but it is envisaged that this will be the start of a rolling programme of investment lasting 12 years. This will enable all Derbyshire schools to be upgraded in the future.

School standards minister David Miliband has invited senior education officials from the authority to a meeting with him next week, ahead of the start of detailed discussions with his department after Christmas. He said: “Building Schools for the Future provides a unique opportunity to tackle a generation of under-investment in our schools and provide all young people with the facilities they deserve."

A former community centre is to be returned to public use after Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet today (Tuesday) gave the go-ahead for the building to be converted into an education support centre.

The building at Barrow Hill in Chesterfield has suffered from a large number of vandal attacks since it closed.

Derbyshire County Council agreed to buy the building from its owners, the Barrow Hill Community Centre trustees, in January. The authority has now given the go ahead to a £323,000 scheme which will see the building renovated.

The community centre will be turned into an education support centre, which assists young people who have been excluded from schools with a view to enabling them to return to mainstream education.

The building will form part of a network of facilities across Derbyshire that aim to support 14 to 16-year olds. Many pupils will spend part of their time at the Barrow Hill site working towards GCSEs and the rest at colleges and other centres around Derbyshire attending vocational courses.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “This building is currently in a poor state of repair due to vandalism problems.

“So this project will not only offer young people an opportunity to receive a very specialist type of educational support but also improve the appearance of the building which has to be good for the Barrow Hill area.

“The building has been designed in consultation with the teaching staff who will be based there.”

Work is expected to start in January 2005 and should take 22 weeks to be completed. The first lessons in the new support centre should start in early July.

The building will have a security fence around it to reduce the potential for vandalism attacks.

A new framework outlining the future roles, responsibilities and pay for teaching assistants has been agreed by Derbyshire County Council, trade unions and schools.

The agreement follows a wholesale review of the way teaching assistants operate in Derbyshire schools and is designed to recognise the changing role that many have, particularly those with responsibility for supporting children with learning difficulties, helping teachers in the delivery of the National Curriculum and implementation of the Government’s National Workload Agreement.

Unlike in many other parts of the country, the changes are being made with the full support of trade unions and schools, who have been involved throughout an extensive consultation process.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “This ground breaking agreement offers teaching assistants greater recognition for the valuable work they do.

“It also sets out a clear career path linked to national standards, which enables teaching assistants to progress from an induction stage through to fully qualified teacher status. This will particularly benefit those teaching assistants who are parents returning to work.

“Schools are pleased with the plans because it offers them the flexibility they need to meet the ever changing and individual needs of pupils.”

Under the changes schools will be able to employ teaching assistants on any one of four different pay grade levels, according to the amount of supervision they need in their role. Which grade a teaching assistant is on will depend on the level of responsibility they have and the skills they will need to do the job. Previously pay was determined solely by the level of qualifications a teaching assistant had.

Individual schools will carry out consultations with their staff and decide on what changes need to be made to their workforce. This process will be carried out with the support of Derbyshire County Council and the trade unions, who will be on site when the discussions take place.

The Government has promised that all primary and secondary schools will receive a minimum five and four per cent increase in funding respectively for the financial year 2004/05. Part of this increase is to enable schools to carry out workforce reforms, including the establishment of clearer pay grades for teaching assistants.

Schools will begin to start implementing the new framework from January 2005. Briefing sessions are being organised for schools and the process will be carried out jointly with the support and assistance of trade unions.

A new ICM poll reveals that people in the East Midlands underestimate the severity of community sentences and are unaware of the benefits this type of sentence can offer to their local community. The new research, commissioned by the Government, reveals that few people in the East Midlands understand the serious and tough demands of community sentences, leading to the belief that they are a ‘soft option’.

Unpaid work - Only 6% of the nation realise that community punishment involves unpaid work when in fact over seven million hours are ordered each year. In Derbyshire 80,000 hours have been worked by offenders in the past six months.

Length of punishment – A third of people in the East Midlands (32%) underestimate the length of community punishment orders with offenders doing more hours of work than people think.

Curfew – Over half (53%) underestimate the severity of curfew orders and do not realise curfew orders, which involve offenders being electronically tagged in the community, can mean being required to live in probation hostels.

Enforcement – Almost half (43%) are unaware that breach of the terms of a community sentence can result in a fine, more hours and even a prison sentence.

Paul Goggins, Minister for Prisons and Probation, said: “I have seen the positive impact a community sentence can have. Offenders have the opportunity to put something back and the community benefits from the work they do. Prison is the right option for serious and dangerous offenders but in less serious cases community sentences are the most appropriate way to punish the offender and reduce re-offending.”

Martin Narey, Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service, said: “For dangerous and serious offenders prison is the only option. But, for non-violent or less serious offences community sentences are an effective way to pay back the community and reduce re-offending. The range of available community sentences, including drug treatment and testing, electronic tagging, unpaid work and courses to address offending behaviour, ensures that the right balance can be struck between punishment and rehabilitation. This ultimately helps achieve our aim of protecting the public.”

The research shows that residents of the East Midlands are unaware of the many benefits to their community from unpaid work provided by offenders undertaking their community punishment hours:

Only 14% of people in the East Midlands are aware of benefits from unpaid work.

Derbyshire Probation Service is involved in projects like Coton-in-the-Elms Primary School, Swadlincote where the Community Punishment team has been involved in turning a strip of wasteland at the rear of the school into a nature reserve, by installing paths, fences, ponds and hides for the benefit of children at the school. Also projects like Christ Church graveyard in Chesterfield which has been cleared of thick undergrowth, uncovering war graves, and has had paths added to turn it into a community wildlife area.

Almost a third (32%) are unaware that charities, the biggest beneficiaries of this unpaid work, receive any assistance.

Steve Goode, Derbyshire Probation Service Chief Officer, said: “While prison is appropriate for serious crimes, for acts of dishonesty like fraud or criminal damage like vandalism, is it more beneficial to our community for them to spend 100 hours cleaning graffiti from our streets or for them to sit in jail for a month? Community sentences are a straightforward way for offenders to pay back to the communities of Derbyshire in a very practical way and help them to build a life away from crime by acquiring new skills and an understanding of the consequences of their actions and being more personally responsible.

“This research is the starting point of a process to educate people about community sentences. They make up around half of all sentences passed in England and Wales, and really do justice by paying back the community and by punishing and rehabilitating offenders.”

The Derbyshire Association for the Blind is to benefit from a charity ball being held in the county later this week.

The 5th annual National Probation Service Derbyshire charity ball is being held this Saturday (4 December) at the Assembly Rooms in Derby with around 200 guests expected including probation service staff, family and friends.

There will also be a number of people at the ball from the probation service’s partnership agencies including youth offending teams, police, social services, magistrates and solicitors. The aim of the evening is to raise as much money as possible for charity through a raffle, and those benefiting in the past have been Derby City Hospital’s baby care unit, the Macmillan Fund, the Magic Millions Appeal and the Headways charity.

Prizes for the raffle are donated by local and national businesses and each year around £500 is raised.

This year’s donations include prizes from Toni & Guy, Derby County Football Club, The Body Shop, Sally Montague, UCI, Sainsbury’s, Pizza Express and pantomime tickets from the Assembly Rooms.

Guest speaker at the ball will be Paddy Scriven, governor at Foston Hall Prison. A representative from the Derbyshire Association for the Blind will also give a speech, telling guests where the money raised will be spent and what benefits it will have for the charity.

Probation service Board Chair John Raine said: “The annual charity ball is always a great success and I am sure this year will be no exception, especially when it comes to raising money.

“The charity is a very worthwhile one and the money it raises really does make a difference to people’s lives. I am sure everyone who comes will have a great time and at the end of the night we will be able to make a healthy donation to the Derbyshire Association for the Blind.”

Changing rooms are to be built by Derbyshire County Council at a Chesterfield primary school to improve sports facilities for pupils and the local community.

The changing rooms for Hunloke Park Primary School will be built near the main school building. They will include boys and girls showers, storage space, an external ramp and a toilet block, including a disabled toilet.

The £142,000 project is being funded by a partnership. Derbyshire County Council will contribute £39,444, while the school will pay £24,598. The remaining money will come from the Lottery’s New Opportunities Fund.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “The changing rooms will help improve opportunities for sporting activities, which fits in with the Government’s aim of encouraging people to lead more active lives.

“The facilities will be used by pupils during school hours and will be available for community use at other times.”

Work will start on site in early January 2005 and is expected to take 16 weeks to complete.

Access all areas

Work is to be carried out by Derbyshire County Council to improve disabled access to Bamford Primary School.

The measures will include putting access ramps outside the junior block and will cost £33,900.

A separate project to improve disabled access to the toilets in the school’s infant block is currently taking place and should be completed by 20 December.

Work to install the access ramps will begin following the completion of that project.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for education, said: “We have a programme of work planned across the county to improve disabled access to school buildings for pupils, staff and visitors.

“This work will help to increase Bamford Primary School’s position at the heart of the local community by making it more accessible to everyone.”

Honours were served up at Derbyshire’s Food and Drink awards to celebrate the finest culinary creations and premises in the county.

The third annual awards, hosted by Derbyshire County Council, took place last night (November 30) at The George Hotel in Hathersage.

Prize-winners were chosen from more than 80 entries which were received from restaurants, cafés, pubs and hotels that serve and advertise top Derbyshire produce.

The awards were launched by the authority to strengthen links between local food and drink suppliers and providers and showcase the high standards in the industry throughout the county.

Independent judges short-listed the competitors and paid “mystery customer” visits to premises to assess eateries on the quality of food and drink, customer service and use of county produce and acknowledgement of it on menus.

The winners in the four categories were:

Restaurant of the Year – The Peacock, Rowsley

Pub/Bistro of the Year – The White Hart, South Wingfield

Tea Room/Coffee House of the Year – Derby Cathedral Centre Coffee Shop

Best Breakfast – Underleigh House, Hope Valley.

Entrants who were highly commended received certificates and winners each received a glass trophy and certificate.

Councillor Geoff Carlile, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for regeneration, presented winners with certificates with prizes awarded by John Nutt, the University of Derby’s head of institute for hospitality and tourism.

Highly commended businesses included:

Restaurant of the Year – The George Hotel, Hathersage

Pub/Bistro of the Year – Ladybower Inn, Bamford

Tea Room/Coffee House of the Year – Soul Deli, Derby

Best Breakfast – Buckingham’s Hotel and Restaurant, Chesterfield.

Councillor Carlile said: “We were overwhelmed by the quality of all the entries as they were of an exceptionally high standard.

“Derbyshire can boast a thriving food and drink industry which boosts the county’s economy and provides jobs for thousands of people.

“The county council is delighted to host this successful event once again to celebrate the standards of excellence and to make residents and tourists aware of what is on offer.”

Local businesses supported the awards with Royal Crown Derby sponsoring the Restaurant of the Year category and Denby Pottery sponsoring the Tea Room/Coffee House of the Year award.

Want to get your hands on the latest computer game but can’t afford to buy it? Then why not get down to your local library.

It may not seem the obvious place to pick up the latest Playstation 2 or Xbox releases but from Monday (December 6) they will be available for hire at 11 Derbyshire County Council libraries.

They are Chesterfield, Buxton, Bolsover, Ashbourne, Alfreton, Glossop, Ilkeston, Duffield, Ripley, Dronfield and Swadlincote.

Games will also be loaned from Long Eaton Library when it re-opens in the spring following a major refurbishment.

People will have a choice of up to 50 titles in each library – ranging from football and dance to arcade-type sci-fi games - although extra copies of the most popular games will be available.

Derbyshire youngsters who carry the county council’s b-line travel and discount card were asked to help choose the games on offer.

Library users will be able to make their own suggestions for new games to add to the list and, because games have certificates like films, young people will be prevented from taking out unsuitable titles. The cost of hiring a maximum of two games for a week or part of the week will be £3.50.

Councillor Bob Janes, the county council’s cabinet member for community services, said: “Derbyshire libraries are moving with the times by offering computer games for loan for the first time.

“It is important we appeal to all age groups and we hope young people in particular will take advantage of this new service. Games chosen will appeal to girls as well as boys and all the main new games will be added as they become available.

“While you are at the library why not take advantage of all the other services we offer, for instance free use of the internet, video phones and the loan of books, CDs, videos and DVDs.”

In the latest edition of the b-line magazine – out next week - youngsters get the chance to win a PS2 or Xbox and £75 to spend on games by answering a simple question.