Cherie Blair, Norwood’s Patron of Children Services officially opened Norwood’s first pre-school nursery based at The Kennedy Leigh Children & Family Centre and Pears Wing for Children in Hendon, North West London on Monday 27 April 2009. The nursery, which is inclusive for children with and without learning disabilities, opened in September 2008. 14 children currently attend the nursery which by 2010 will reach capacity at 30 children by gradually increasing the numbers of children so that hey each have time to settle in at their own pace. The nursery provides a high quality and inclusive teaching and learning environment for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old.
The state-of-the-art nursery was specially designed to be used by children with disabilities and is thus built on one level. The children have the benefit of using a multi-sensory room with a wide range of specialist equipment, a ball pond and soft play room, and direct access to an outside adventure play area and sensory garden. About a third of the children attending the nursery have a special need. All children and their parents can benefit from support and advice from Educational Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Family Support Workers based on site.
The official opening was a relaxed and informal occasion and Mrs Blair, who is also Patron of Investors in Children, spent time talking to the children, staff and volunteers who give up their time to work in the nursery. She also spoke at length with local dignitaries who included the Mayor of Barnet, Councillor John Marshall, Andrew Dismore MP, local Councillors and major donors to Norwood who supported the project.
Cherie Blair said, “It’s such a pleasure to be here and to see how well the children and the nursery are doing. I’d like to thank all of you who have donated generously to make this nursery happen."
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“The Government has an important programme which is that Every Child Matters. It’s a great slogan but it needs to be put into practice. What we see here is not just words but action, which makes this place so special and it’s actually what makes Norwood so special. This is why I’m so pleased to be Patron of Children’s Services, because if every child matters then every child has the right to a start in life that I would want for my own children. If every child matters, then every child has the right to be included and that’s so important for children with special needs, and that's why this nursery is so important.”
Cherie Blair invited two of the children, Shira (3 years-old) and Gadi (2 years-old) to help her cut the ribbon to officially open the Nursery. They then presented her with a gift of a painting they had done and a posy of flowers with a note, “To Cherie Blair with love from the children of Norwood Nursery.”
Norma Brier said: "We are very fortunate that Cherie Blair, Norwood’s Patron of Children’s Services is here to officially open the nursery. This special resource is the culmination of a dream of many years, to give every child the right kind of start in life regardless of disability or disadvantage. The facility was made possible through a number of major donors who, despite the difficult economic climate, believe in the value of our work and I’d like to thank them for their generosity which has made this nursery a reality.”
The first, recent report from Ofsted, stated that the nursery was “good overall” and “outstanding in the area of parental partnership and inclusion”. The Kennedy Leigh Children & Family Centre and Pears Wing for Children has also become a designated Sure Start Children Centre for Barnet. The Chief Executive told guests, “This is an endorsement of Norwood’s services. These Centres bring together early education, childcare, health and family services, and this is a wonderful achievement and recognition of the quality of the services that Norwood provides.”
Cherie Blair first became involved with Norwood in 2004 when she hosted a Norwood reception at 10 Downing Street. She became Patron of Children’s Services for Norwood in 2007 after which she opened Norwood’s Wellbeing at Bearsted Centre, adjacent to Norwood’s Somers Children & Family Centre in Hackney.
