New Book Celebrates Successful Healthy and Extended Schools and Children's Centres Programmes

The services and opportunities provided for children and young people through healthy and extended schools and children's centres on the Isle of Wight are being celebrated in a new publication. 'Making the Difference Together' is being officially launched at Downside Middle School in Newport on Thursday 17 July 2008 from 6.30pm.

The lives of children and their families are changing significantly for the better as a result of the fresh approach to their well-being and life prospects made possible by Children’s Centres and the Healthy and Extended Schools programmes. The celebratory book provides a window on how the Isle of Wight has embraced these programmes which are central to delivering the government's Every Child Matters agenda.

The book, which has been produced by Isle of Wight Council's Extended Schools Development Officer Matthew Bell, traces the Isle of Wight's journey so far, exploring a diverse mix of projects and approaches. Copies of the publication will be made available to schools and local authorities around the country.

The book is supported by Professor Dame Patricia Collarbone, who is a freelance consultant and advises the Government and other agencies and was previously Principal Adviser at the Training and Development Agency (TDA). She has written a foreword and is delighted to be backing the publication.

Isle of Wight Council's Cabinet member for Children and Young People Cllr Alan Wells said "The Isle of Wight is very fortunate to have some of the best healthy and extended schools programmes around, with many schemes here the subject of national interest. This new book will further reinforce our reputation on a national scale, and we should thank the many people involved at various schools on the Island that make the services happen".