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15 November 2022
![Children running in to school](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/144/81/0/2022-11/Children%20running%20into%20school%20-%20Canva.jpg)
The West Northants community is being asked for its opinion on the admission arrangements for schools run by academies and trusts which are planning changes.
Every year, institutions which act as their own school admission authorities must review the process by which parents and guardians apply for places at their schools. If changes are planned, they have to first be consulted on.
On Monday, 14 November West Northants Council’s (WNC) School Admission Team opened a formal consultation on the admissions arrangements for any mainstream schools whose admission authorities have asked us to co-ordinate their consultation for them.
The consultation takes place between Monday, 14 November and Saturday, 31 December 2022.
"Trusts, foundations, academies and other governing bodies have to make sure their admission policies meet local needs and it makes sense to do that in a consistent manner using the council’s central position and well-established partnerships throughout the community."Cllr Fiona Baker, WNC’s Cabinet Member for children, families and education
Following the consultation period, admission authorities will review their proposed admission arrangements for 2024 and determine them by 28 February 2023, ensuring they are published on the schools’ websites by 15 March 2023.
To view the list of schools consulting this year and to respond to the consultation, please visit the WNC Citizenspace.
Alternatively, you can email responses to [email protected].
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The roll out of a new road safety film based on a real-life incident will send powerful messages to sixth form and college students in Northamptonshire about the potentially tragic consequences that a simple error of judgement can have when driving.
Northamptonshire Safer Roads Alliance, a partnership between Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Northamptonshire Police, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and Kier Highways, commissioned the new road safety educational film called My Pink Trainers to raise awareness of the causes of collisions and the serious consequences these collisions could have.
The short hard-hitting film has been developed in consultation with young people and involves a road traffic collision in Northamptonshire, where a young person tragically lost their life.
In the video, the three survivors of the collision speak candidly about the incident, the aftermath and the emotional and physical impact it has had on their lives. Body cam footage worn by emergency service personnel also shows scenes from the night of the accident and students hear how the passenger who died was identified by her distinct pink trainers.
The film was officially launched earlier this month at Brooke Weston Academy in Corby and was watched by 150 Year 12 and 13 students, who commented on how “impactful” and “real” the film was. One student said: “In films you can get a bit desensitised. When he (the driver) got emotional I looked around the room and everyone was a bit choked because it’s real life.”
Reflecting on the film, another student added: “No-one’s invincible. We all like to think we are good drivers, but we can all make mistakes. It only takes one second to mess up and potentially mess up your whole life… it could literally happen to anyone, any day!”
Newly qualified drivers and young people are the most vulnerable on Britain’s roads today, with around 20% of 16 to 24-year-olds being seriously injured or killed as a result of a road traffic collision.
Prevention, Safeguarding and Partnerships Manager at Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, Lisa Bryan, said: “This is the second film we have produced and delivered to schools on road safety, but this time we involved young people from the start of production. The intention is not to shock students, but to use a real-life incident that young people can relate to.
“I think we have achieved this with a balance of sensitive content from the night of the incident, open accounts from the survivors and the following discussions that were led by Prevention Officers, Police and NSRA.”
Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold, said: “Young people are more likely to be injured on our roads than involved in any type of crime, and I want to tackle that. We need to educate them in the way that works the best for them, makes the biggest impact and helps them to make more informed decisions when out in a car. We want to start relevant conversations that reach beyond the students themselves, to peers, parents and wider communities as well.
“Several road traffic collisions in recent weeks have tragically resulted in a fatality or serious injury. If we can reach every sixth form or college in the county and save even one life through this engagement, then we are making progress.”
Northamptonshire Police Chief Inspector Shelley Nichols, who is leading the development of a new Roads Policing Team within the Force and attended the launch, said: “One of the main points the students took from the film and discussion was around the fact that you don’t have to break the law to be convicted of ‘careless driving.’ You don’t have to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol or exceed the speed limit. A simple mistake can completely change the course of your life.”
Keith Millard, from the Northamptonshire Safer Roads Alliance, said: “Through partnership working we are committed to improving road safety in Northamptonshire and reaching out to young and new drivers is a priority in keeping motorists and passengers safe.
“I would like to thank the staff and students from Years 12 and 13 at Brooke Weston Academy who participated in the session and shared their thoughts on the film and the delivery of the discussions. I hope we can continue to roll these sessions out across all sixth forms and colleges in Northamptonshire.”
Schools and colleges interested in finding out more or booking a road safety session can contact Keith Millard at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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14 November 2022
![Mobile phone on a tripod filming a business owner talking about her clothing products.](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/144/81/0/2022-11/SBS%20video%20screenshot.jpg)
We are pulling out the stops in support of small businesses across West Northamptonshire as we approach this year’s Small Business Saturday on December 3.
There are over twenty thousand small businesses operating across the area, offering a vast range of products and services to meet most needs.
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is asking organisations to share a video showcasing their business and expressing why people should shop locally and support small businesses.
We have crafted a quick ‘how to’ guide to help even the most novice of videographers create captivating content to shine a spotlight on as many West Northants businesses as possible.
We are here to promote local businesses and will share the videos including any events and offers across our channels, so tag in @westnorthants on Facebook or Twitter and @West Northamptonshire Council on LinkedIn and use the #SmallBizSatUK hashtag.
The first Small Business Saturday in the UK took place in 2013 and since then the event has gone from strength to strength.
The campaign aims to highlight small business success and encourages consumers to 'shop local' and support small businesses in their communities.
The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.
To ensure that residents and visitors can explore every West Northants business, all employers are urged to register on the free app, Explore West Northants.
The app showcases everything to enjoy all year round in West Northants, from independent businesses to cultural attractions and local events.
"Small Business Saturday is a great way to highlight what our incredible small businesses do.Cllr Daniel Lister, WNC’s Cabinet Member for economic development, town centre regeneration and growth,"We have some amazing independent retailers, family-owned restaurants, pubs, cafes, visitor attractions and activity centres across our area – there really is something for everyone.
"However we want to make sure we are celebrating our small businesses all year round – this is why we encourage businesses to utilise all the free support and advice available so they can really showcase their business to the widest possible audience – all of which is available through our WNC Economy Team.
"So please, do join us in the lead-up to this year’s Small Business Saturday and take part in our activities and let us help to spread the word about your business, and all of the amazing businesses West Northants has to offer."
A range of free webinars are available to support businesses with everything from creating TikToks and growing a business online to managing time and money better.
WNC also offers wide-ranging support for businesses throughout the year including:
- Business growth
- Accessing funding
- Employment, skills and recruitment
- Help to start a new business
- A Business Toolbox packed with useful documents
Visit our Small Business Saturday page or contact us at [email protected] or on 01327 322230 to find out more.
Creating content for Small Business Saturday
WATCH: Cllr Daniel Lister, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Town Centre Regeneration and Growth, talks more about Small Business Saturday in West Northants.Small Business Saturday takes place on December 3, and we’re encouraging fantastic independent outlets like yours to share videos of your business on social media, to shine a light on all that West Northamptonshire has to offer.
It may seem daunting, but the filming can be done quickly and easily on your smartphone, helping you show off your business and engage with potential customers.
These great examples of videos that businesses have produced might give you some inspiration, but we’ve also put together some top tips to help you:
Planning your video
A good video is all in the planning and preparation. Decide whether you want to shoot your video selfie style, whether you want a colleague to film you, or whether you just want to show off your products on film while you provide a voiceover.
You may feel too shy to appear on film, but please remember that videos with people in them are more engaging on social media.
If you’re not sure what to say, then why not use the following as a guide:
- Introduce your business
- Where in West Northants are you located?
- How long have you been here?
- What do you sell?
- What is a popular product?
- What’s unique about your shop?
- Why should a customer visit your shop?
- What are you most proud of?
- Can you describe the experience of visiting your shop?
- What is your favourite thing about being a business owner in West Northants?
You don’t need to answer all the questions – choose the most interesting ones for your business.
Shooting your video
Here are some things to think about when filming the video:
- Light - Can you increase the light in the room? It might appear bright to the human eye but the camera on your phone may struggle.
- Move your subject so they’re facing the light source and their face is the brightest part of the picture.
- Background – Look at the background of what you’re filming and think about how this portrays your business. What can you see? Is it uncluttered? Does the entire frame portray the message you want it to?
- Noise – limit background noise and avoid filming outside if there is traffic or any wind.
- Holding your phone – Hold your phone upright in portrait mode, as this style of video has a greater engagement rate on social media. If you’re getting a static shot then try to keep the phone straight and level and consider the use of a little tripod or something to rest the phone on.
- Smile…and relax – if presenting to camera, try to be as relaxed as possible and project your smile through your entire face and eyes.
Sharing your video
If your video needs trimming you can usually do this using the camera app on your camera smartphone, though we have also provided a list of free editing apps below.
Then please share it to your social media accounts. Be sure to tag us in Facebook or Twitter and @West Northamptonshire Council on LinkedIn and use the #SmallBizSatUK hashtag.
We can then share your videos on our channels to spread the word!
Free video editing software
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15 November 2022
![a young child wearing a baseball cap back to front](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/144/81/0/2022-11/Free%20Nasal%20Spray%202%20and%203%20year%20olds%20image.png)
Public Health in North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Councils is recommending all parents or guardians of two and three year olds to get their child vaccinated with the free seasonal flu nasal spray as soon as possible.
Flu is a highly contagious infection which can be caught by anyone, and for some people, including small children, can have serious health implications. As well as being an unpleasant illness, in some cases it leads to more serious problems such as bronchitis, pneumonia, middle ear infection, sepsis, and can even prove fatal.
Ensuring your child has their flu vaccination can help to protect them from catching the virus as small children are highly susceptible, particularly those who attend nursery or other childcare settings.
When infected with flu, young children can pose a secondary risk to anyone vulnerable or elderly they come into contact with.
This year is predicted to be a bad winter for respiratory infections, with an expected significant rise in flu and COVID-19 infections occurring together. This combination increases the possibility of complications and is likely to result in increased hospitalisations and deaths.
Dr Annapurna Sen, Consultant in Health Protection for North and West Northamptonshire Councils says:
“The Northamptonshire uptake of flu vaccine in children aged two to three was very low last year with less than half vaccinated. This meant many very young children were unprotected from flu.
"This year we are all spending more time mixing with others, so it is especially important to make this a priority. All children in this age group are being offered this vaccination for free. It’s given to most children through a nasal spray which contains small amounts of weakened flu viruses and does not cause flu in children.
"I want to appeal to all parents and guardians to take personal responsibility to ensure your children receive their flu nasal spray, a simple procedure, but one which will protect them from flu as well as preventing the spread of the illness to vulnerable family and friends.”
As flu viruses change annually, a new nasal spray vaccine needs to be given each year, just as with the injection type flu vaccinations.
If you have not received an invitation for your child to receive the flu vaccine, speak to your GP practice to book an appointment.
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15 November 2022
![City Fibres Workers in Northampton town centre](https://cms.westnorthants.gov.uk/sites/default/files/styles/responsive/public/144/81/0/2022-11/1.png)
CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has now laid a staggering 840km of full fibre internet cables through Northampton as part of its £40m plan to future-proof the town’s digital connectivity.
This milestone represents enough full fibre cabling to speed through 143 laps of the nearby Silverstone Circuit, home of the famous British Grand Prix.
It means CityFibre has already connected thousands of homes and businesses in Northampton to its full fibre network, allowing residents to access lightning-fast broadband services from launch partner Vodafone, on selected Vodafone Pro Broadband plans, while TalkTalk, Giganet, Zen, Air Broadband, Yayzi, IDNet and Octaplus are available in parts of the town.
“We’re making fantastic progress on our £40m investment to transform Northampton’s digital infrastructure through the rollout of our full fibre technology. Thanks to the work of our build team, the majority of Northampton now has access to full fibre broadband, up from less than one per cent when the project began.James Cushing, CityFibre’s Area Manager for Northampton“Our network is being installed throughout the town’s streets at speed. With thousands of residents already able to access the best available digital connectivity, we cannot wait for Northampton to reap the many benefits of full fibre broadband.”
“We’re thrilled to learn that CityFibre is making significant progress on its full fibre network, which takes Northampton well ahead of the national average of full fibre availability. We have also recently agreed a wayleave which will allow this infrastructure to be installed to thousands of council homes, providing residents with increased choice, competition and access to the latest digital infrastructure and all the benefits this can bring. The full fibre rollout will massively upgrade the town’s digital infrastructure and ensure our homes and businesses are equipped to thrive in the digital age.”Councillor Jonathan Nunn, Leader of West Northants Council
Northampton is one of a growing number of locations in the UK to benefit from CityFibre’s nationwide Gigabit City Investment Programme which will bring new and improved broadband infrastructure within reach of up to eight million homes and businesses nationwide.
Granemore Group is installing the full fibre network on CityFibre’s behalf, with works currently ongoing in the Abington and Semilong areas. Work has been completed across large sections of the town including Hunsbury, Grange Park, Far Cotton, Parklands, Blackthorn and Boothville with more to follow shortly. As work is completed in each neighbourhood, residents can access some of the fastest and most competitive broadband packages available.
People interested in giving their home or business broadband a boost can find out more about the build, register their interest on the CityFibre website and ensure they are updated on service availability.