Please follow & like us

RSS
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
YouTube
Instagram

Sefton Stories

Is your two-year-old entitled to free early education and childcare?

20 October 2020
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Sefton Stories, Your Sefton

In Sefton, some two-year-olds are eligible for 15 hours of free early education and childcare a week for 38 weeks of the year.

This can be taken up with an Early Years provider such as a childminder, nursery or pre-school that is registered with Ofsted and Sefton Council to offer funded places.

Is my child entitled to a free place?

You can claim a free place for your child if you receive one or more of the following benefits:

  • Income support
  • Income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit – if you and your partner have a combined income from work of ÂŁ15,400 or less a year, after tax
  • Tax credits and you have an income of ÂŁ16,190 or less a year, before tax
  • Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
  • Support through part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Working Tax Credit four-week run on (the payment you receive when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
  • You are excluded from claiming public funds because of immigration status, or lack of immigration status
  • You are in receipt of support under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989

Children are also eligible if they:

  • Are a Local Authority ‘looked after’ child
  • Have a current statement of special educational needs (SEN) or an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
  • Attract Disability Living Allowance
  • They have left care under a special guardianship order; child arrangements order or adoption order.

Some children will also be eligible for a free place if their parents or carers meet similar low-level income requirements. Visit the dedicated Childcare pages at the Sefton Council website to find out more.

How do I apply?

  • Speak to a member of staff in your local Family Wellbeing Centre; or
  • Speak with your Health Visitor or Social Worker; or
  • Online via www.sefton.gov.uk/2yearolds

Please visit: www.seftondirectory.com/childcare for further information.

 

Biggest flu programme in history rolled out across Sefton

23 September 2020
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Stories, Your Sefton

GP surgeries and pharmacies across Sefton are starting to vaccinate thousands of people against flu, whilst ensuring that coronavirus social distancing measures are followed.

This year will be the most comprehensive flu programme in UK history, with more people eligible for the free NHS vaccine than ever. If you are eligible, please do not call your practice, your GP practice will be in touch to let you know the plans for you to get your vaccine.

Those eligible for a free flu vaccination this year are:

  • people who are on the shielded patient list and members of their household;
  • all school year groups up to and including Year 7;
  • people aged over 65;
  • pregnant women;
  • those with pre-existing conditions including at-risk under-2-year olds;
  • receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick.

Later this year, dependent on supply, people aged 50 to 64 will also be invited to get the flu vaccination. If you are in this age group, please wait for your invitation and do not call for an appointment.

Dr Craig Gillespie, chair of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “With more people eligible for the flu vaccine and the need for social distancing and infection control measures staff have been working really hard to ensure that everyone will be as safe as possible while receiving their vaccination this year.”

“Don’t ignore the flu, it’s a potentially fatal illness and one that can spread very quickly. If you are eligible for a free flu vaccine and invited to have it, it is important that you take up that offer.”

Dr Rob Caudwell, chair of NHS Southport and Formby CCG, said: “Flu should not be underestimated it is a serious illness and can even be deadly for the most vulnerable of our population.

“The flu vaccination is the best defense we have against the virus. It is vital that those eligible have the vaccine every year as it protects against different strains of flu which can change and evolve each year.”

Margaret Jones, director of public health for Sefton, said: “Having the vaccine is the single best way to protect against flu and will be an important step in preventing not only you, but your family, friends, and colleagues from getting the virus.

“As well as getting the vaccine, practicing good hand hygiene by catching coughs and sneezes in a tissue, throwing it away and washing your hands after can really help limit its spread – catch it, bin it, kill it.”

For more information or to check your eligibility for the flu vaccine, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

 

Sefton school chef crowned LACA School Chef of the Year 2020

6 March 2020
Charlene Smith
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Sefton Stories, Young People, Your Sefton

 

We are absolutely delighted with the news that one of Sefton’s amazing School Chefs, Holly Charnock  has won this year’s national SCOTY title, for her two-course meal, which was presented at Stratford-upon-Avon College, in Warwickshire.

 The LACA organised competition sponsored by McDougalls is a chance for school chefs to showcase their professional skills, in front of a panel of judges. Ten regional champions and two additional ‘wild cards’, battled against one another for the title.

Read More

Crosby crowds lit up by incredible lightcloud!

12 November 2019
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Sefton Stories

Thousands of people were dazzled by a huge constellation that lit up Crosby Coastal Park at the weekend (November 8-10).

Huge crowds headed to see the Parabolic Lightcloud that signalled the start of preparations for Sefton’s Borough of Culture Year

The Borough of Culture (BoC) title is awarded by the Liverpool City Region’s Combined Authority to one of its six local authorities (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) on a rotating, annual basis.

2019 is currently Wirral’s year while 2020 will be dedicated to Sefton with a raft of new, existing and community led events planned for the year.

As part of the constellation switch on, local performers entertained the crowds over three nights (November 8-10) and visitors to the Coastal park were encouraged share images of the Parabolic Lightcloud.

Both the Mayor of Sefton, Cllr June Burns and the Mayor of Wirral, Cllr Tony Smith, made speeches at the launch that were followed by the reading of a poem commissioned by Eleanor Rees, Lecturer in Creative Literature at Hope University, Liverpool.

This was read out by Grace Travers,14, a student at Holy Family Catholic High School and Aidan Challoner-Baker, also 14, and from Calday Grange Grammar School.

Following the poem, lollipop man Arthur Snellgrove, who works at St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School, pressed the plunger to illuminate the Parabolic Lightcloud.

Dwayne Johnson, Sefton Council’s Chief Executive, said: “What a weekend and what a start to the beginning of Sefton’s Borough of Culture year.

“As Wirral’s amazing year draws to a close, the lighting of the Parabolic Lightcloud was a perfect way for Sefton to start ours.

“The constellation looked amazing in the wonderful setting of Crosby Coastal Park and over the course of the weekend, thousands of people made the time to come and see it in all its splendor.

“The Borough of Culture title for 2020 is one we are extremely proud of and can’t wait to showcase everything about our wonderful borough. The focus of our year will be on stories looking at two key elements, local history and the environment.

“This is just the start of an exciting 12 months of cultural activities tapping into new, existing and community led events across the whole of the borough. From later this month we will be looking to engage with communities and partners regarding the stories from our history and heritage on which they would wish to see focus in 2020, so watch this space!

“Thanks to all our guests who attended, our fabulous entertainment and most importantly those who made the time to marvel at the constellation.”

The Borough of Culture initiative is part of the Metro Mayor’s Culture programme that sees Liverpool City Region commit to spending the equivalent of 1% of its annual £30 million devolution funding from government to stimulate cultural and creative activities.

Constellations to come to earth and light up Liverpool City Region

2 October 2019
Ollie Cowan
No comments
Categories: Essential Sefton, Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council, Sefton Stories, Your Sefton

An arts project designed to inspire local communities to rediscover their local neighbourhoods and spend time stargazing is being launched across Liverpool City Region.

Constellations Presents brings a different artist to Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral to present a work inspired by a specific constellation and its relationship to local stories.

It is the follow-on from the award winning ‘Lost Castles’ which saw six extraordinary cardboard box structures being built and then demolished by communities in locations across the six boroughs in 2018.

The project was instigated by Wirral’s Borough of Culture year, which will launch the season with a spectacular installation by Studio Joanie Lemercier in West Kirby between the 18-20 October.

The final project – in Knowsley – will see local artist Sam Wiehl reimagining local residents and community groups as stars in a disused shop in Huyton village centre between 21-23 November.

The six commissions are:

Constellations Presents – Studio Joanie Lemercier
West Kirby Marine Lake, Wirral
18-20 October 2019

Constellations Presents – Cetus
Mann Island, Liverpool
1-9 November 2019

Constellations Presents – The Creation
Sherdley Park, St Helens
5 November 2019

Constellations Presents – Parabolic Lightcloud
Crosby Coastal Park, Sefton
8-10 November 2019

Constellations Presents – Nova
Victoria Park, Widnes, Halton
15-17 November 2019

Constellations Presents – The Garish Sun
Huyton Village Centre, Knowsley
21-23 November 2019

To find out more about the six works and what is happening near you, go to www.constellationslcr.co.uk

Search Box