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 Almost all children starting primary school in September have been given a place at one of their preferred schools.
Parents and carers received letters earlier this week to confirm which school their child will be attending. Starting school is a milestone for both children and parents, and we know that getting the school they want makes a huge, positive difference.
We always work very hard to offer as many children as possible one of their preferred schools and we’re close to achieving 100% this year. We wish everyone the best of luck as their primary education begins.
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Health and Wellbeing Board conference this Friday |
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 If you have an interest in health and wellbeing in West Berkshire, the annual Health and Wellbeing Board Conference is the place for you. It’s this Friday, 19 April, 9.30am to 1.30pm at the Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury.
With a focus on Primary Care and Community Outreach, it’s a great opportunity for people to come together and discuss health issues.
There will be opportunities to network and meet a range of local providers in our stalls marketplace before and after the event. Solutions4Health will also be there all day carrying out NHS Health Checks, more information about this here.
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If you’re out and about in Northbrook Street, Newbury this coming Saturday, 20 April, we’ll be launching our Community Wellness Outreach Programme with our partner Solutions4Health.
We’re bringing NHS health checks out into our communities to make them more accessible. They’re a simple way to assess your risk for conditions like heart disease and diabetes. It's a small step that can make a big difference.
We’ll be there between 10am and 4pm offering on the spot health checks (subject to availability) exercise tips, face painting and more!
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Throughout the year we're out and about improving our roads. From fixing potholes, resurfacing roads, and making sure our drains flow well, the work we do helps keep you on the move. Every month we fix around 244 potholes and resurface 2km of our road network as well as undertaking other maintenance.
We want to deliver services to be proud of - and you can help. If you spot a pothole, or see something else which needs fixing, you can tell us by reporting it online.
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Keep up to date on road closures in your area by using the map of roadworks, including those of utility companies, on our website to plan your journeys. Click the link below for more information.
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Work has started on resurfacing the A4 Bath Road from the A340 roundabout (where A4 Bath Road meets Basingstoke Road and Pips Way) all the way to Theale roundabout (where A4 Bath Road meets with A340 and The Green).
Running until Friday 26 April, we'll need to close the road completely, but we've split the work into two phases to keep things moving smoothly:
- Until Saturday 20 April: 09:30am to 3:30pm, expect road narrowing and some two-way temporary traffic signals.
- Until Friday 26 April: 7:00pm to 05:00am, full evening road closure for resurfacing.
Signs are in place indicating road closure, no street parking, access times for properties and businesses and diversion route.
Please see visit the One Network website for any updates relating to these works.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to improve the district's roads.
 Are you planning to hand in postal votes at a polling station or the Council offices in Newbury? There's been some changes to this process that you need to be aware of:
- When you hand in a postal vote in person you must complete a form at the time of delivery or your vote will be rejected.
- There are now limits on how many people you can hand in postal votes for - you can hand in up to five, plus your own.
- If you're a political party or campaigner, you're now only able to hand in postal votes for your family members or people you provide care for.
 We're backing the Department for Education's 'moments matter, attendance counts' campaign to highlight the importance of regular attendance at schools and other educational settings.
In West Berkshire, attendance has fallen since 2019 from being above the national average to now in line with it at 93.1% overall so far this academic year. This may sound like a high percentage, however it equates to over 330,000 days or 1700 academic years of lost education and is the same as every pupil having nearly a day of absence every other week.
The good news is it's never too late for students to benefit from good attendance with data showing that more than half of students who were persistently absent in Year 10, and then rarely absent in Year 11, passed at least five GCSEs, compared to 36% of pupils who were persistently absent in both years. Good attendance can also support children to build positive friendships with peers.
The NHS and the Chief Medical Officer say it's usually appropriate for parents and carers to send their children to school with mild respiratory illnesses, including general cold symptoms like a minor cough, runny nose or sore throat.
For local support around attendance, speak to the attendance lead at your child’s school, visit our family hubs or find more information on our website. There is also useful advice available on the Young Minds website.
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Anyone can watch our Council and Committee meetings in person at our Market Street offices in Newbury and live on our YouTube channel to view the important decisions made by councillors on issues such as planning, waste services and schools.
Upcoming public meetings include:
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 Our Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) has been happening across the district over the last two weeks, with approximately 750 children enjoying a wide range of activities from paddle-boarding and canoeing to tech camps, and arts and crafts.
Each eligible child also received a prepared meal each day they attended. The families that access HAF often express what a fantastic programme it is and how they value the opportunities and vital support it offers over the holiday periods.
For more information about our HAF programme, please visit our website or contact the HAF Coordinator, Hannah Lee at Hannah.lee1@westberks.gov.uk
 The Berkshire and Oxfordshire City Nature Challenge 2024 is just around the corner!
From Friday 26 to Monday 29 April, join us in exploring and documenting the incredible wildlife in our urban areas. Last year, over 100 people made over 1000 observations and this year we want to do even better.
Download the iNaturalist app, snap a pic, and help collect valuable data on the nature around us. It’s easy, fun and you don’t need to be an expert. Teams of experts will be reviewing and updating the information submitted – so you can learn more about what you’ve spotted later on!
Join our iNaturalist project to stay updated and get ready for the event later this month. For more information, visit the City Nature Challenge website.
 Join a member of the Thames Valley Ancient Egypt Society (TVAES) for a free guided tour of the special exhibition ‘From the Nile to Newbury: Exploring Life and Death in Ancient Egypt’ at West Berkshire Museum this Saturday, 20 April, at 10.30am and 2pm.
The guided tours lasts 30-45 minutes and some will include handling a small selection of ancient Egypt artefacts from the Museum’s handling collection. Visitors are welcome to ask questions during the tour and at the end.
Tickets are free but must be booked online. Places are limited to 15 participants per tour. This session is suitable for adults but older children are welcome.
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Film and TV skills bootcamp |
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Are you 19+, living in Berkshire and interested in pursuing a career in film and TV?
Resource Productions is working in partnership with local Berkshire industry employers to produce the second film and TV skills bootcamp, covering all areas of the filmmaking process.
If you or someone you know would like to get involved, apply online by midday, Wednesday 24 April.
The course will be held at the University of Reading in May.
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And finally...
- Berkshire’s six councils, led by the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, are keen to involve you in shaping the Local Nature Recovery Strategy through workshops and a county-wide survey. Visit the Local Nature Recovery Strategy page to complete the survey and find out about online and in-person events that you can attend, such as at the Corn Exchange, Hungerford Town Hall on 23 April.
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