northlincs.gov.uk

42 (42) PROPOSALS TO PILOT THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY WITHIN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Director of People submitted a report to update the Cabinet member on the proposal for piloting the Imagination Library within North Lincolnshire, following an approach from Andrew Percy MP. 

It was explained that the administration of the pilot would be linked to Children’s Centres in the pilot areas on the Isle of Axholme and that a North Lincolnshire Imagination Library Board would need to be established to provide oversight of the future scale up across North Lincolnshire, and to deliver long term sustainability.

There was a compelling case for investing in early reading within North Lincolnshire.  The wider benefits of developing early communication skills were well documented and research showed that failure to properly support speech, language and communication development from birth had significant, negative, and long term impacts on educational attainment, mental health, social inclusion and participation, and levels of youth offending.

The Imagination Library was founded in 1996 by Dolly Parton to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee.  The aim was to encourage a love for reading among pre-school children and their families and to generate an excitement about books. The programme promoted parental engagement in a child’s early learning experiences, encouraged reading to a child early and often, and promoted the use of library services.

Further details of the proposed Pilot scheme were outlined within the report.

Resolved – (a) That the Imagination Library scheme be launched as a pilot in the first instance for all babies within the Children’s Centre catchment area on the Isle of Axholme and for all children from birth to 4 years within the North Axholme Children’s Centre catchment area; (b) that the pilot be administered through the Children’s Centres, and (c) that a North Lincolnshire Imagination Library Board be established to ensure the long term sustainability of the programme.

The corresponding reports of the following items (Minutes 39 and 40refer) contain exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

43 (43)  PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ESTABLISHMENT AT YOUNG PERSONS EDUCATION CENTRE (YPEC) – The Director of People submitted a report seeking approval for the proposed deletion and creation of posts at the YPEC.

The proposals afforded a saving to the establishment, releasing a proportion of the Dedicated Schools Grant to reinvest in the provision for young people attending the centre.

Further details of the proposals were outlined within the report.

Resolved – That the deletion and creation of the posts outlined within the report be approved.