Westhill Academy pupils rocked the stage at last night’s “2016, Be Your Best Rock Challenge” winning seven awards including awards for choreography and costumes. They were fantastic!

Their theme was “Truly Scrumptious – in a world full of sweet temptation, will the children be able to resist the Child Catcher’s grasp? Taken in by the lure of drugs, watch how the children’s minds are driven wild. Will they make it out unharmed?”

Amidst a blaze of colour, stirring music and carefully crafted moves, I am happy to say they did.

They did Aberdeenshire proud, as did all entries, with Harlaw Academy the only City school there with an equally outstanding performance.

The third prize went to Turriff Academy with Mintlaw in second place. Fraserburgh Academy were the overall winners (see picture).

Some months ago, many parents contacted me about volunteers in some pre-school childcare groups not being eligible to have their PVG (protection of vulnerable groups) check fee waived. In most of these cases, it was parents of the children attending the groups who were helping out voluntarily and being unfairly charged for doing so.

I am grateful to Alison McInnes, MSP, who helped highlight the situation in the Scottish Parliament and I am delighted to hear that changes should come in to force on 1 July meaning that people who had to pay the fee between 27 February 2011 and 30 June 2015 can apply for a refund.

Alison said  “Although it has taken longer than expected, I am glad that the changes are finally due to take place and those who did have to pay the fee will be able to get a refund. Education and socialisation of pre-school age children is crucial to their long-term development. Parents and carers should be encouraged to get involved and not deterred by additional costs.”

Last weekend I visited Templars Park in Maryculter where the 1st Westhill Scout group had set up camp. The atmosphere certainly brought back memories of my girl guiding days with the rows of tents and the outdoor cooking, although I can’t remember the food being so sophisticated back then! I was invited to their AGM and heard all about the year just past from Group Scout Leader, Chris Pinnell. It was certainly a very full year of activities, awards, and camps as well as the week-to-week work developing the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and I was pleased to hear that scouts from the more rural areas had joined. Two local members are looking forward to attending the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in Japan later on this year (seen above accepting a cheque for the UK Scouting movement). I am sure they will find it a fascinating trip and a great opportunity to make new friends and try new experiences.

Parents and carers of children whose birth date is between March 1, 2011 and February 28, 2013 can apply for the free early learning and childcare place their youngster is entitled to in Aberdeenshire this month.

Every three and four year old and eligible two year old is entitled to up to 600 hours of early learning and childcare per year, dependant on the term date of which they are eligible to start. Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Education, Learning and Leisure Committee Councillor Isobel Davidson said: “I urge parents and carers to complete the admissions process to ensure their child secures the place they are entitled to and help the education service plan its resources.”

In Aberdeenshire a variety of settings are available including Aberdeenshire Council nursery classes, approved playgroups and approved private day nurseries.

All settings are regulated by Education Scotland and the Care Inspectorate, and are quality assured by Aberdeenshire Council.

The next application period for three and four year olds runs from Monday, February 23 until Friday, March 6 and there are three intake periods running up to spring 2016:

August 2015 for children who will be three by 31 August 2015

•  January 2016 for children who will be three by 31 December 2015.

• April 2016 for children who will be three by 29 February 2016.

The application pack ‘Applying for Early Learning and Childcare for Your Child: Session 2015-16’ can be found at all settings and online at

www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/parentscarers/earlylearningandchildcare

Parents or carers of two year olds who are looked after and accommodated, or who are under a kinship or guardianship order could be eligible for up to 600 hours of childcare, as are those in receipt of benefits such as Job Seekers Allowance.

Applications for eligible two year olds are managed centrally by the early years team who can be contacted on 01224 664026 and further information is also available at www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/parentscarers/earlylearningandchildcare

As part of an ongoing Playpark Optimisation Consultation a series of public meetings begins in Westhill tomorrow night. (Thursday, October 16)

A review of children’s play parks is being undertaken across Aberdeenshire and parents and children are being asked for their views as part of the process.

The review is aimed at providing the best quality play areas in the best locations with the money available.

The public meetings are part of a nine month consultation exercise and will run until the end of the month.

There are currently 446 council play areas and key elements to be addressed include: equity and location of provision, play value, condition, safety, funding models, partnership working and maintenance and replacement regimes.

Around £550,000 is spent annually on managing and maintaining the sites. Over half that sum is required to ensure the sites are adequately inspected and repaired.

This includes a thorough annual safety inspection to identify risk levels, overall conditions, Play Value and defects.

The remaining budget is available to fund upgrading and replacement of existing equipment. However, the costs associated with the purchase and installation of new equipment are substantial and the current budget gives limited opportunity for major improvements.

The review will look at current play park provision and through the consultation phase gather the widest possible view on the existing play park portfolio as a whole, and on individual sites.

The process will look at a range of issues in order to identify a strategy which delivers the optimum provision.

The first public meeting takes place at Westhill Academy tomorrow (Thursday) at 7pm, followed by meetings right across the area. For details and more information see: http://bit.ly/1oakndn

…..was a motto I was very familiar with when I was a girl guide many years ago, so I was delighted to be back in good company at the 1st Westhill Scout Group’s AGM on Friday night.

Once the usual business was done with the election of office-bearers and annual reports, we were treated to presentations from various packs and colonies. First up was a Beaver who took stage fright! The Redwood Beavers were next and told us how they had gained lots of new badges throughout the year including ones for first aid skills and hiking. They told their story through a series of delightful sketches, finishing off with how Ben the Beaver mascot had travelled all over the country to different scout groups and after spending some time in Westhill was now ready to be passed to the next pack.

The Cubs have had a busy year with fishing at Raemoir, having pillow fights at Templer’s Park, visiting the Mountain Rescue Centre and working hard for their DIY and chef’s badges.

The Bagheera Pack also completed their DIY badges as well as fitting in some jousting, visiting Carnie Woods, eating toasted mashmallows and litter picking – what all good scouts do!

1st Westhill Scouts are looking forward to joining hundreds of other scouts at the Gordon Gathering at Lyne of Skene on 6-8 June for a weekend of camping and activities.

The scouts have various volunteer opportunities. If you want to get involved check out their website for contact details. Whether you can offer your skills on the parent committee, maintaining the scout hut, admin support or supporting the leaders, you can help them to “create a better future in the community”.

Councillors received a presentation yesterday from looked after children and care leavers on what makes a good corporate parent.

Four young people, supported by staff from the Children’s Rights Service, told councillors what they thought made a good corporate parent and how they could support them in the future.

They asked councillors to make sure everyone recognised their role in acting as a corporate parent, and ensuring they have the same chances in life as other young people, they asked for two councillors to become champions to represent their interests, one in the south of Aberdeenshire and one in the North, they asked councillors to meet with their group at least once a year to better learn and understand about their experiences, and to set up a page on the council’s website where young people can be kept informed about how councillors and staff are supporting them.

The young people are to be congratulated for their presentation skills. They brought a breath of fresh air to a sometimes stuffy council chamber! Their views on what they need us to do are very welcome.

I certainly look forward to supporting them and eagerly await the launch of the book and DVD on corporate parenting which they have produced.

Want to run your own business but don’t know where to start? Get off the starting blocks and go along to the Enterprising Youth Conference 2012.

There are two conferences taking place in Grampian and Tayside. Tuesday 13 November sees the Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen host EYC2012 before moving on to Fat Sams in Dundee on Wednesday 14 November.

Both days will run from 9am until 4pm.

Hear, meet and network with, like-minded people and be inspired by those who have done it.

There will be exhibitors with information on starting your own business as well as business advice and inspirational speakers.

You’ll soon be off and running.

Book onto the Grampian conference at http://eycgrampian2012.eventbrite.co.uk/

Or book onto the Tayside event at www.eyctayside2012.eventbrite.co.uk

Use the hashtag #EYC2012 on Twitter to see what people are saying on the run up to and during the conference. Follow @enetweets for more info before the event too.

You can check out the video from the 2011 Conference on YouTube to see the sort of things to expect.

The event is aimed at young people (between 16 – 26) who are interested and passionate about “enterprise”.

If you would like to book more than 5 tickets for this event please contact the events team on 01224 289713.

Westhill councillors Ron McKail and Iris Walker have pledged their support for the council’s development plans which could see £75,000 provided for a local youth project.

The Westhill Youth Café was included as part of a “planning for real” programme and is now set to become a reality with the money being used to provide a refurbished building for youth workers, children and young people.

The youth cafe, which will be based in the Old Schoolhouse building, will be a huge asset to the community by giving young people a place to call their own, as well as a location for youth workers to develop more innovative and exiting activities to engage with young people.

Aberdeenshire Council`s investment is part of a wider £3 million package aimed at towns and villages across the region to create better places to live and work.

The projects have been selected by identifying community needs and priorities with a major target being sustainable improvement to peoples day to day lives.

Cllr Ron McKail said: “A youth café in Westhill has been a dream for many of us and I’m pleased this has come to fruition. It will bring us a much needed facility and a 21st century resource for Westhill.”

Cllr Iris Walker added: “The Old School House is a great asset to the town centre and I am delighted that money is being invested in it for the young people of Westhill today and for future generations.”