Last updated 15:54, Wednesday, 23 April 2008

LOCAL primary school teachers are being offer £400 to promote science, mathematics and technology projects.

VALUABLE LESSON: Nuclear Management partners joined pupils at Jericho school, Whitehaven to watch a science experiment on chemical reactions. Present were Nick Capron (senior schools improvement officer, children's’ services) Jackie Corlett and Ian Irving from Nuclear Management partners , science teacher, Andy Barton, and school head, Shaun Monaghan.

Nuclear Management Partners (NMP) has joined with Cumbria County Council Children’s Services to offer Excellence in Teaching mini-grants.

Key Stage 2 teachers in Copeland are being encouraged to apply for the mini-grants by mid June, so that funds can be made available for the new term in September.

Representatives of NMP and Children’s Services visited Jericho Primary to see one of the project’s in action which involved Year 5 pupils learning about mixing materials to produce gases which would inflate balloons.

Headmaster, Shaun Monaghan, said: “Supporting projects like this is the cornerstone of the mini grants scheme.

“These grants will be invaluable in enabling our pupils to participate in dynamic projects which really stimulate their interest and enable them to investigate and further understand scientific processes”.

Nick Capron, Senior School Improvement Officer, said: “Cumbria County Council Children’s Services is always keen to partner with the private sector to provide much needed resources to our hard working teachers.

“This scheme being offered by NMP not only helps with school funds, but also recognises the dedication of our teachers and the efforts they put in to developing innovative and imaginative projects to help children understand mathematics and science”.

Application packs have been sent out to all local primary schools and entries are to be returned by June 13. Successful applicants will be awarded their grants at a celebration evening in early July.

NMP is the consortium of URS Washington Division, Amec and Areva which is currently bidding for the management contract at Sellafield.

Iain Irving of Nuclear Management Partners, said: “It is a pleasure to be able to assist local schools in this way.

“As we look to deliver the Energy Coast Masterplan in West Cumbria, science, mathematics and technology education will be the backbone of our success, so we need to encourage the development of these skills at an early age.

“While we are asking teachers to make their bids for the grants in writing, we promise to make this as concise a process as possible – the last thing we want to burden teachers with is added bureaucracy”.