IT’S OFFICIAL – ROBIN HOOD ANNOUNCED AS THE EAST MIDLANDS’ FAVOURITE NURSERY RHYME!

Local school performs the county’s favourite rhyme at the Victoria Centre and pupils win CD recording session

Victoria Centre and Heart 106 helped Make Chatter Matter last week during the BIG Nursery Rhyme Off in support of children’s communication charity I CAN.  Blue Bell Hill Primary and Nursery School performed in style, winning the live singing competition with their unique and exciting version of Robin Hood.

Liz Sewell, Marketing Manager at the Victoria Centre, says “The competition was very tough, with both schools singing their hearts out for I CAN and children who struggle to communicate.  After a long deliberation we decided to crown Blue Bell the winners because the children exemplified what Make Chatter Matter was all about. They communicated and articulated beautifully, were loud and vibrant, and the whole performance was exciting and packed full of actions. It is also great to see that our city still has its love affair with Robin Hood!”

Blue Bell Hill Primary and Nursery School were joined on stage by Huntingdon Primary and Nursery School and pupils from I CAN’s Dawn House Specialist School for children and young people with severe and complex communication disabilities.

Sam and Amy from Heart 106’s breakfast show helped judge the nursery rhyme extravaganza alongside The Sherriff of Nottingham, Councillor Jeannie Packer; Liz Sewell from the Victoria Centre and other special guests. In addition to this, shoppers expressed their communication skills throughout the day by taking part in baby and toddler rhyme time sessions led by Tots on Tour and children’s magic shows.

Nic from Bluebell Hill Primary and Nursery School said “I am really thrilled for all the kids that took part as they put a lot of effort into practicing the words and actions to Robin Hood.  The day was a huge success and it was great to be involved in such a fantastic event, designed specifically for children to help develop their communication skills.  The winning singers are incredibly excited about going to the Heart 106 studios to record their CD – I must admit, I am too!”

East Midlands’ residents have been voting for their favourite nursery rhyme by logging onto www.rhymestars.co.uk/eastmidlands. Every vote is going towards unlocking a donation to I CAN from Openreach, BT’s local network business. 50,000 votes means £50,000 for children who struggle to communicate.

ICM research commissioned by I CAN last year, parents from the East Midlands came bottom of a national survey to identify the ‘milestones’ of children’s communication development.  Just 31% of East Midlands’ parents were able to correctly match the milestones to ages compared with a national average of 43%. 

Log onto www.rhymestars.co.uk/eastmidlands to nominate your favourite nursery rhyme and help Make Chatter Matter in the East Midlands.

About speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)

Recent evidence shows that in some parts of the UK, 40-50% of children, are arriving at primary school without the basic speech and language skills they need to learn and make friends.

On top of this, I CAN estimates that 10% of children in the area have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) either as their primary disability or as part of another condition - such as autism, cerebral palsy or dyslexia. Without the right help at the right time, these children face academic failure, low self-esteem and an increased risk of being socially excluded.

About I CAN and Make Chatter Matter campaign

Make Chatter Matter is I CAN’s UK-wide awareness-raising campaign to highlight the importance of children’s communication development as the foundation for learning and development. I CAN launched a regional campaign, Make Chatter Matter in the East Midlands, with the Victoria Centre in 2006.

For more information, please log onto www.ican.org.uk/makechattermatter

I CAN is the children’s communication charity. Speaking, listening and communication skills are the foundation for children’s learning. I CAN works on fostering the development of speech and language skills in all children with a special focus on those who find this hard: children with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).

About the Victoria Centre

Victoria Centre has 120 shops and stores all under one roof, including anchor stores such as John Lewis and House of Fraser, plus a wide selection of cafes and restaurants. The Victoria Centre typically attracts over 450,000 visitors a week, which means that around 23 million customers visit each year. For more information, log onto http://www.victoria-centre-nottingham.co.uk/

About I CAN’s Dawn House Specialist School

I CAN’s Dawn House Specialist School in Rainworth, Nottinghamshire provides specialist education therapy and care for pupils aged 5-19 with a severe and complex communication disability. As well as supporting children directly within their settings, I CAN schools also support the parents and families of these children, provide outreach to mainstream, facilitate academic research and provide an independent assessment service for families, professionals and Local Authorities.

An Ofsted inspection in Jan 2008 at Dawn House Specialist School awarded the school with ‘good with many outstanding features’ status.  The review, praised the school for its ‘outstanding’ curriculum and other activities, care guidance and support and for developing pupils’ well being.

In January 2007, Dawn House Specialist School was named one of 15 special schools to be awarded a Specialist School Programme Grant by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). 

About Rhyme Stars and Openreach 

Openreach is responsible for the nationwide local BT network which connects homes and businesses across Britain to communications providers' networks.  Openreach provides communications providers with services and products associated with that network.

Running throughout Make Chatter Matter month, Rhyme Stars (www.rhymestars.co.uk) is searching for the nation’s favourite nursery rhyme. For every vote for a favourite childhood rhyme logged, I CAN will receive £1 from Openreach, BT’s local network business. By nominating their favourite nursery rhyme, members of the public will unlock a £50,000 target donation to the charity by Openreach. This will go to I CAN and its work to help develop children’s speech, language and communication.