This is an exciting opportunity to join the strong team at Milborne Port Primary School.
We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Higher Level Teaching Assistant who will be an essential part our team and provide support where needed across the school.
As a school which is still growing, we are able to offer excellent opportunities for continued professional development.
This is a fixed term post until 21/07/2023.
Please contact the School Business Manager Claire Brown on: [email protected]for an application form and job description.
Closing date: Friday 7th October 2022
Interviews: Week beginning 10th October 2022
All completed applications should be returned to the school email address above.
Milborne Port Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share in this commitment.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and medical clearance.
“We will all be familiar with the words from the hymn Abide With Me: ‘Change and decay in all around I see, O Thou who changest not abide with me’. Well, we are marking and mourning a huge change in our country with the death of our Sovereign and the start of a new reign. A new chapter in our national story. Some often find it easy, perhaps too easy, to knock or belittle our country. It is worth us all reflecting that in a week when the Prime Minister changed based on the votes of a very small electorate and the position of Head of State passed via dynastic, primogeniture succession there was not a riot, demonstration or brick thrown. Not many countries, perhaps none, could say or expect the same.
“Let’s go back to that hymn line quoted above. I am totally convinced that the depth of shock and sadness felt by the country is because the length of our late Queen’s reign led us, falsely and unfortunately, to believe that she would always be there. A constant. Unchanging. She would ‘changest not’. As the Speaker of the House of Lords said last week, ‘we closed our eyes’ to the prospect of change necessitated by mortality. The vast majority of our fellow subjects knew only The Queen. The Queen was known simply by that title across the world. Not a Queen but The Queen. Indeed, the German dictionary has two entries – a queen and The Queen – the latter being our late Monarch. It is sobering to think that, if life spans continue to extend, no one alive today will see, in their own right, a Queen of England. We shall neither sing or proclaim God Save the Queen for many a long year.
“While She ‘changest not’, the world around Her did and at a pace seen neither before or – I’d hazard a guess – will again. From travel and technology to medical advances and social change. In 1957 She spoke of the advent of widespread TV ownership as changing the relationship between Queen and Country. No idea then of smartphones, the web etc. Lifespans were shorter. Something like 72% of occupations available now did not exist in 1952. The role of women in society, commerce and politics has changed (I would argue in some part because The Queen provided a clear and demonstrable example that ‘women could’). The Winds of Change were not yet even a breeze. The Commonwealth a handful of countries. Everest had yet to be conquered and Space travel was the stuff of fantasy. Powdered wigs were still worn by Buckingham Palace Servants and divorced people could not be received at Court or attend the Ascot Royal Enclosure.
“The sheer unrelenting pace and scale of change might have made The Queen seem of the past. A relic of a bygone era. Out of date and out of touch. She never was. Through often invisible or imperceptible evolutions she kept Herself and the Monarchy responsive to, and relevant for, each and every of the seventy years we were blessed to call Her our Sovereign Lady. How fortunate we were to live in this second Elizabethan Age. We of course declaim God Save the King, but not before we pray for the repose of the soul of Elizabeth our Late Queen. May she Rest in Peace and rise in glory. If anyone deserves to, She most certainly does.”
With heroic successes and higher viewing figures, 2022 might just be the turning point for equality in sport, says expert Mel Mitchell
With the success of the UEFA Women’s European Championships, it seems that women’s sport is finally heading in the right direction. A record-breaking Wembley stadium crowd of 87,192 witnessed England win their very first major women’s tournament. I don’t normally like watching football, but even I was gripped! Women’s sport hasn’t always been so well received though. Sport has been a male domain, mostly because vigorous activity was seen as inappropriate; women were sidelined and banned from participating.
The 50 year ban Women’s football actually became popular during the First World War but, due to its increasing popularity, in 1921, the Football Association (FA) banned women from playing on FA-affiliated pitches. You can read the fascinating story here – it wasn’t until 1971, 50 years later, that the ban was overturned. This year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was also a massive success in terms of women’s sport, with more medals being awarded to women than men. The Games also saw the debut of the women’s T20 cricket. I for one enjoyed sitting down with a cup of tea to watch everything the Games had to offer. Regular readers will know I love lifting weights, so the Olympic weightlifting was a personal highlight. Being inspired It is fair to say that equality in sport still has a way to go, but it is great to see how quickly it is progressing, with so many women’s sports like football, rugby and cricket getting ever more coverage and recognition. This will hopefully inspire more women to try a sport, nurturing the next generation into believing they can achieve whatever they wish to. It is also a pleasure to see women participating not necessarily in the sport itself, but getting involved in other ways such as refereeing and coaching. I enjoy being part of a thriving senior ladies rugby team – a team that didn’t even exist five years ago. This season we are entering our very first league. We aren’t at elite level yet, but watch this space. In fact, most towns and villages now have at least one sports club open to women. So come on ladies, get yourselves involved!
A new defibrillator on Cheap Street continues the trend for repurposing the UK’s iconic but unused phone boxesinto community-funded local resources
Sherborne Defibrillator Launch L-R Jane Wood, Andrew Maddock, Nicola Girling, Juliet Pentolfe, David Hayes
A new community public access defibrillator (cPAD) has been officially opened by the Sherborne businesses and organisations who have supported the £3,000 project. Following a cardiac arrest the chances of survival drop dramatically every minute. The UK Resuscitation Council recommends that a defibrillator should be available when medical treatment is more than five minutes away, which includes most rural locations in the UK. The defibrillator is located in Cheap Street outside Sherborne Post Office, in an iconic K6 telephone kiosk. It is designed specifically to give confidence to those attending a casualty and it provides real-time voice instruction, helping even inexperienced rescuers deliver effective CPR. Inside the phone box, where the telephone once was, the defibrillator is housed in a heated cabinet to protect it from the elements. The unit is registered with South Western Ambulance Service so that when someone calls 999, they will be directed to the box (if it is the closest defibrillator to the casualty). No code will be required to access the device.
A community effort A year ago, following a Sherborne Chamber of Trade appeal, local business Girlings Complete Hearing kickstarted the campaign with a £500 funding pledge along with a commitment to manage the project. Midwest the Stationers raised a further £360 through a charity raffle. Nicola Girling said: ‘As hearing healthcare providers, we didn’t think twice about supporting a new health resource for the town. Naturally, we hope the defibrillator isn’t needed, but it’s reassuring to know it’s available round the clock for a cardiac emergency’. Following months of negotiation with BT and Royal Mail, the telephone box was formally adopted by Sherborne Town Council through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme. Town Clerk Steve Shield said: ‘The installation of more potentially life-saving equipment, in such a prominent location in the town, is invaluable for residents, local businesses and visitors alike.’
A significant contribution However this new defibrillator would not have been possible without the support of The Friends of the Yeatman Hospital (FoYH), which committed £1,740 to the project as part of its community outreach. David Hayes CBE, chairman of the FoYH, said: ‘At the forefront of our priorities is emergency and long-term care for the Sherborne community. The defibrillator project is an excellent example of our contributions, and we are delighted to collaborate to ensure the equipment’s introduction and sustainability’. BT continues to support the cost of electricity to the box, so the equipment will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. BT’s Mark Johnson said: “We launched the Adopt a Kiosk scheme because the red telephone box is a significant part of our national heritage. We’re pleased to support a project which not only helps continue the legacy of the red kiosk, but crucially provides communities with such a beneficial and life-saving function.’
‘The NHS has lost its way’ – Patricia Miller, CEO for Dorset’s Integrated Care Board, oversees complex health services and health improvement programmes. Her thoughts on Dorset’s poverty and its inextricable link to the population’s health are eye-opening as she shares her fascinating life’s story through her Dorset Island Discs
In politics, light-touch government is an excellent theory, says North Dorset Green Party’s Ken Huggins, but in practice it just doesn’t hold water. Or sewage. Labour’s Pat Osborne says the New Green Deal is already planned, and though a summer of local fairs can lift a community, there’s no hiding from the anxious mood that grips the Vale’s residents, says North Dorset Lib Dems’ Mike Chapman
This month Roger Guttridge tells the story of an 18th cenury rector of Lydlinch who was obsessed with hunting – but his first quarry was an unfortunate old woman
Farmer Martin Green is claimed to be the most profesisonal of amateur archaelogists. A visit to his remarkable Down Farm Museum is highly recommended, says Rupert Hardy, chair of North Dorset CPRE
Baden Powell was the Boy Scout who never wanted to grow up. In her open-minded new biography, Dorset journalist Lorraine Gibson unearths fascinating insights into this complex character.
Employ My Ability offers vocational training for students with learning disabilities and special educational needs and disabilities. One of their students, Maddie Walters, has spent the last term working on her journalism skills with the aim of writing a column for us. – Ed
Hi, and how are you doing? This month I am doing a ‘top 5’ list based on my favourite places to visit across North Dorset and surrounding areas, so you can be inspired to go and explore beautiful area. Here are my top 5 places in North Dorset:
Stourhead is one of my favourite places to visit, because it has beautiful nature and fantastic scenery. It is accessible for wheelchair users and it’s disabled-friendly. During the summer holidays lots of people visit forthe nice walks in the sunshine.
Hauser and Wirth
Hauser and Wirth is an art gallery in Bruton where you can look in the gallery and see the artwork, and then eat in the café next to a big firepit. This gallery also does workshops so you can experience different art styles, learn about art in Dorset and also have a shop.
Gold Hill
Gold Hill in Shaftesbury has some lovely views, and is famous for an advert that’s filmed there. Everyone local knows it, but when was the last time you actually went there to enjoy it?
Sculpture by the Lakes
At Pallngton Lakes near Dorchester, Sculpture by the Lakes is an amazing place to go during the spring and summer months. The nature and beauty of this place is fantastic and it is very disabled-friendly.
Hambledon Hill
Hambledon Hill is a beautiful hill situated in the Blackmore Vale. It’s tough to get to the top, but the scenery is stunningly pleasing.
These are my top five places to visit in North Dorset – I hope you enjoyed them!
This month’s news from the unofficial capital of the Blackmore Vale …
Pauline Batstone rounds up a busy month in Sturminster Newton
The John Carrick Financial Services window won the community vote during SturBuzz week
1855 Work is continuing on the 1855 project (the former NatWest building) which is expected to be open for business in the late autumn. The project offers people-facing sales space to artisan entrepreneurs who may have outgrown working solely from home. For more information email Cheryl Basten and Jacqui Wragg at [email protected]
New friends The Emporium and The Boutique are both looking for more volunteers to work on the shop floor or behind the scenes or both. The volunteers are a friendly bunch and working with them offers a good way to get out of the house, meet new people and at the same time use your spare hours to benefit the community. The team also enjoys social events together from time to time. If you are interested, pop into either shop and leave your details for Cheryl to contact you, or email [email protected]
Pure Hair – joint second in the SturBuzz window competition
Art browsing The Art Gallery is open on the floor above The Emporium, and it has a fascinating mix of interesting paintings, cartoons and prints at knock-down prices.
… and furniture too People often don’t realise The Emporium has a wide range of furniture for sale – the larger pieces are stored elsewhere but we can show you photos and take you to look. We can also deliver your purchases – and collect whatever it is you are replacing.
The Boutique, joint second in the contest
How many shopping days? An early warning about Christmas – Jacqui Wragg is already working with a small team to plan the Christmas events for this year. The Christmas Tree lighting will be on the 26th November, and it is hoped to have an ice-rink in the town that weekend. Father Christmas will of course be on duty. There will also be late night shopping on the Friday evening before. If you want to be involved in the planning, or have time to help on the day, please let Jacqui know – [email protected]
Library sessions The Friends of the Library are getting back in action after COVID, and have been running craft events for children during the summer holidays. Volunteers are needed to continue the Saturday craft sessions and also the planned after-school club for younger children. If you would like to be involved, please contact Michaela on [email protected]
The Queen’s Green Canopy During October there will be further contributions to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Green Canopy, with tree planting around the town. A new leaflet has been produced, introducing walkers to the remarkable specimen trees we have in the town. It is available from the Town Council and The Emporium – for information contact Taprisha Seifert – [email protected]
The Friends of Sturminster Library need more volunteers to help the Saturday craft sessions
Car meet The car enthusiasts will be back in the recreation ground between 9am and noon on Saturday 3rd September, and again on the 1st October. From November to March inclusive they will be meeting either outside the Medical Centre or Hansons and Streeters. Numbers have increased over the summer and quite a collection now gathers every month. It’s definitely worth a wander round, and always good to chat to the owners. If you’d like to bring your car, it’s a relaxed meet and no booking or qualifications are necessary – just an interesting car (with the relevant insurance)!
Next year’s wedding fair A second wedding festival is being planned for 5th and 6th May 2023, with a wedding fair at The Exchange and support from shops in the town, a display of dresses and culminating in a wedding ball at The Exchange. To help with the planning or get involved in the event, please contact Debbie at Stur’s bridal shop Forever Bridal – [email protected].
Successful Family Fest The Riverside Meadow Family Fest was a great success, and plans are already underway for a bigger, better event next year – but the plan is to move it to the start of the school holiday rather than have it at the end of the summer. For information contact Ruth Caldwell [email protected]
Thank you And finally, thank you to all those who supported the Community Fete on Saturday 27th Aug and especially the shops who supported SturBuzz week by decorating their windows. The business voted the best by the public at the Community Fete on Saturday was John Carrick Financial Services with a joint second of The Boutique and Pure Hair. SturBuzz will definitely be back next year!
Huw Wiggin (saxophone) and John Lenehan (piano) join forces in this duo which has been described as “a sympathetic and imaginative partnership” Thursday 6 October 2022, 7.30pm Tindall Recital Hall, Sherborne School Tickets £12.50 01935 812249 [email protected]
