Search:

Working in the community - Packington

The New North Community School and Children's Centre is situated on Popham Road, Islington, and is a two form entry primary school with an integrated Children's Centre.

The School and Children's Centre has been providing wrap around services and activities within a wide range of areas such as children's health and development, parenting support, ESOL classes and free legal and housing advice. As part of an innovative partnership with The Hyde Housing Group, The New North and Rydon, it has opened a satellite site in the heart of the local community at 190 Packington Square.

Working alongside Rydon Construction, Hyde Northside Homes and The New North School, Rydon Maintenance have recently completed a £35,000 Scheme, transforming 3 void flats into a fully refurbished on-site satellite facility.

The transformation has provided a clean, fresh and interim base for high quality family support services, training, workshops and drop in ‘play & chat' sessions.

Ana Sevilla, The New North Community School & Children's Centre Manager says, ‘We are thrilled we are now able to offer services directly from the community that will improve outcomes for children and families during what is likely to be a stressful time for all due to the redevelopment of the Packington Square Estate. This project allows us to work with families with children from birth right through to the end of primary school creating a secure community base for which parents, carers and children have ownership.'

Providing this within the Packington estate has enabled the families there to use the facilities offered by The New North School, such as:

• Stay and Play sessions
• Training courses and workshops with crèche facilities
• Childminders network
• Child development reviews
• Speech and language workshops
• Information and advice sessions
• Free legal advice
• Special needs toy library

Mary McStay, Head teacher, adds, ‘This is an innovative project working with partners to provide services to our children at the heart of the community. Operating as an integrated extended school and children's centre enables us to join with our colleagues from other agencies to better meet the needs of our children and families.'

By 2012 New North will be moving this service to the new Community Centre on the Packington Square Estate and will be able to expand the services to the local community even further.

As part of the handover and official opening of the project, Kate Garraway, GMTVs presenter and local mum, accepted a cheque for £500 from Rydon for The New North to purchase sensory play equipment within the facility.