“Water is kept up on a ledge where some children cannot reach”

A Rochdale pre-school has denied its children don’t all have access to drinking water, following a damning Ofsted report.

Little Stars Pre-school has been told they need to make urgent improvements in all categories by the education watchdog. Bosses at the pre-school said they have implemented an improvement plan to address the issues raised by Ofsted.

During a visit to the Fieldhouse Industrial Estate facility at the end of January, the inspector noted how a lack of positive culture around safeguarding left ‘children at significant risk of harm’.

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The recently published report read: “Children do not have their own water cups and instead pour water into universal cups which others then use. Water is kept up on a ledge where some children cannot reach. Therefore, those children who do not speak are unable to request a drink. Leaders do not make certain that staff follow good hygiene procedures.

“For instance, staff do not consistently intervene to wipe children’s extremely runny noses. On the occasions that staff do intervene, they do not wash their own or children’s hands afterwards.

“This does not help to teach children about their own health and wellbeing and puts them at risk of illness.”

Management at Little Stars denied this claim, saying all children have access to drinking water. The pre-school also pointed out they had been closed to children for the first few weeks of January due to disruption caused by burst pipes and flooding.

They had only just reopened when the inspection took place and feel the inspection report doesn’t accurately reflect the running of the nursery.

The report went on to criticise the pre-school’s curriculum; leadership; and support for those with special educational needs and disabilities. Not all staff can recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect and don’t know the procedures to follow if they do have concerns about a child, according to the report. Concerns over welfare were also raised by inspector Kayte Farrell.

In response, a spokesperson for Little Stars said: “We are extremely disappointed with the outcome of the recent Ofsted inspection, and we have formally challenged aspects of the report. Following this, I also held a conversation with an inspector in March to raise concerns that the findings do not fully reflect the day-to-day reality of our setting.

“Little Stars Pre-School is a nurturing environment where children make strong progress and where we have consistently received positive feedback from families. We are proud of the relationships we have built with our children and parents, this remains at the heart of our practice.

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“In relation to the point raised about access to drinking water, children do have access to water in both rooms. It is provided on trays at an appropriate height within reach, staff actively encourage and support all children, including quieter or non-verbal children, to drink regularly.

“Nevertheless, we have reviewed this further strengthened our approach to ensure accessibility is consistently clear and visible at all times. We take all feedback seriously and have already implemented a detailed improvement plan, including enhanced staff support, strengthened monitoring, and a renewed focus on consistency across practice.

“We are also working closely with the local authority and other external support networks to ensure sustained and measurable improvement.

“Our priority remains the safety, wellbeing and development of every child in our care, as well as continuing to support local working families through our nursery, after-school and holiday provision.

“We remain fully committed to ongoing improvement and would welcome the opportunity to demonstrate the progress made.”

Ofsted have issued the pre-school a Welfare Requirements Notice – requiring the provider to take specific actions in order to improve.

The parish council said the village has already made a ‘substantial contribution’ but council officers noted that there was a ‘shortfall’ of available pitches in the district

Plans to enlarge a Traveller site near Wimblington have been approved despite fears they could ‘dominate’ nearby settled communities. The application sought to double the number of permitted caravans at an existing site off Horsemoor Road.

Three static and three touring caravans were previously allowed but with the latest proposal accepted this is now six of each. A stable block can also be turned into a day room, though Fenland District Council officers said “at least part” was already being used in this way before the application was decided.

Wimblington Parish Council objected to the proposal, as they said the village has already made “a substantial contribution” in terms of Traveller sites. The council noted three established sites along Hook Road and Horsemoor Road.

It also said transporting large static caravans has “severely damaged the narrow rural lanes” and left “deep ruts that damage vehicles”. They said expanding the site “would cause significant and unacceptable impacts on the local environment, infrastructure and community”.

The council officer’s report said that, if approved, the plans would mean Traveller development would exceed the number of conventional homes in the area. Though at odds with planning policy that such sites “should not dominate nearby settled communities”, officers said the benefits outweighed the harm.

They said a “shortfall of available pitches”, the “personal circumstances of the applicant”, and “additional benefits provided in the form of social inclusion, housing provision and reduced inequality” makes the plans acceptable.

They were put before Fenland District Council’s planning committee last Wednesday (April 29) for a final decision. A confidential document was also considered by the committee who chose not to debate it.

Cllr Ian Benney said the application is “policy compliant” and that “travellers all need somewhere to live”. He said: “Travellers live their life and we should be supporting it – I see nothing wrong with this application and I will be supporting it”.

The committee unanimously approved the plans.

NASA scientist Ingrid Honkala, 55, claims to have had three near-death experiences throughout her life and says each time she encountered the exact same afterlife vision

A NASA scientist who claims to have died three times says she witnessed the exact same afterlife on each occasion. Ingrid Honkala, 55, says she has experienced three near-death episodes at the ages of two, 25, and 52.

The first near-death experience occurred when she tumbled into a tank of icy water at home, the second during a motorcycle accident, and the third when her blood pressure plummeted while undergoing surgery.

Yet for Ingrid, who went on to earn a PhD in Marine Science and work for both NASA and the US Navy, it was that very first experience at just two years old that left the most profound mark on her. She recalled how, as she fell into the water, rather than panic setting in, an extraordinary sense of calm washed over her.

Ingrid, originally from Bogotá, explained: “Instead of fear, a deep calm came over me. The panic disappeared and was replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace and stillness. It felt as if my awareness separated from my body. My next memories are not of the physical world, but of an expanded state of awareness.

“I remember seeing my small body floating lifeless in the water. At that moment, I no longer felt like a child in a body but like pure consciousness, a field of awareness and light.

“There was no sense of time, no fear, and no thoughts. Instead, there was a deep knowing that everything was interconnected. I felt completely unified with life itself, as if the boundaries that normally define who we are had dissolved. It felt like being immersed in a vast intelligence filled with love, clarity, and peace.”

Ingrid went on to reveal that during this moment she also sensed she was somehow able to reach her mother several blocks away, something which prompted her mum to turn back.

She recalled: “Even though I was only two years old, that experience left a profound imprint on my consciousness. During the experience, my awareness seemed to move beyond my body. I remember seeing my mother several blocks away from our home as she was walking to her first day at a new job.

“I remember recognising her and thinking ‘that’s my mum’. At that moment there seemed to be a form of communication between us, not through spoken words, but through awareness.”

Ingrid later revealed that when she brought up the incident with her mother years afterwards, their recollections aligned. She said: “When she arrived, she found my body in the water tank where I had drowned.

“The maid who was supposed to be watching us was in another room listening to the radio and had no idea what had happened.”

Remarkably, Ingrid insists she has had two further near-death experiences since — one during a motorcycle accident at 25 and another when her blood pressure plummeted unexpectedly during an operation aged 52. On each occasion, she maintains, she found herself back in that same tranquil state.

A profound consequence of Ingrid’s experiences has been the loss of any fear surrounding death, which she now sees not as something separate from life, but as a different realm of understanding. As the years passed, she began having encounters with what she described as “Beings of Light” who communicated with her, though not through conventional speech.

She said: “From that moment forward, I no longer feared death. The experience showed me that what we call the afterlife did not feel like a distant place at all. Instead, it felt like entering a deeper layer of reality that exists beyond our physical senses. In that state, consciousness felt vast, intelligent, and interconnected.

“To me, the experience suggested that consciousness may not be produced solely by the brain — it may be something more fundamental. As I grew older, I continued to have unusual spiritual experiences, including encounters with what I later described as Beings of Light, luminous presences that communicated through awareness rather than spoken language.”

Ingrid has partly credited these encounters with steering her towards a career in science. She said: “In many ways, my experiences also led me toward science. I wanted to understand the nature of reality through observation and research.

“For many years I focused almost entirely on my scientific career and rarely spoke publicly about my spiritual experiences. Over time, however, I came to see that science and spirituality may not necessarily be in conflict — they may simply be exploring the same mystery from different perspectives.”

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While some sceptics have suggested Ingrid’s encounters might have been triggered by her body enduring extreme stress, she insisted what she went through ran much deeper.

She said: “These experiences transformed my understanding of life itself. Instead of seeing ourselves as isolated individuals struggling to survive, I began to understand that we may be expressions of consciousness experiencing life through a physical form.

“From that perspective, death does not feel like the end of existence, it feels more like a transition in the continuum of consciousness. Through these experiences I also came to feel that, at the deepest level, life never truly ends, consciousness continues.”

​A Whitby town councillor has resigned from the authority, leaving a seat vacant in the parish council’s West Cliff Ward.

​The seat was held by Sarah Blackwell, who recently resigned.

​If ten residents write to North Yorkshire Council by the set deadline, an election will be held to fill the vacancy.

​If an election is called, it will take place not later than Thursday, July 23.

​Otherwise, a town councillor will be appointed through a process known as co-option.

Whitby Town Council. Courtesy Numminen/LDRS

​Residents who wish to see an election held should contact North Yorkshire Council by Wednesday, May 20.

​Requests for an election to fill the vacancy should be made in writing to the Proper Officer at North Yorkshire Council’s Civic Centre, St Lukes Avenue, Harrogate, HG1 2AE.

​They can also be contacted via email at elections@northyorks.gov.uk.

The costs associated with a potential election would be borne by Whitby Town Council.

​

The band have added a Blackburn date to their Shedcember X tour with tickets going on sale at 10am tomorrow.

Shed Seven (Image: SJM)

The annual winter tour, which this year celebrates its 10th year, has become a celebration for fans of the band who will be marking the 30th anniversary of their acclaimed album A Maximum High.

Lead singer Rick Witter said: “We can’t wait to get out there up and down the UK and soak up what is a unique atmosphere at a Shed Seven gig…”

Shed Seven have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence in recent years. In 2024, they made chart history by achieving their first ever Number 1 album with A Matter Of Time, followed just ten months later by a second Number 1 with Liquid Gold.

They are currently working on their seventh studio album.

Shed Seven will play Blackburn on Monday, November 18. On sale 10am tomorrow (Wednesday, May 6) from www.bwdvenues.com.

The first time was at a courthouse. I cried the entire way through.

The second time was the wedding I’d always imagined.

The third time was across from a strip club.

Courtesy of Lis Anna-Langston

The fourth time was in a cave.

Courtesy of Lis Anna-Langston

The fifth time was in France.

Courtesy of Lis Anna-Langston

Not everyone understands why we do this

Weddings don’t have to be one-time performances.

Brits are turning to AI for help as many are guilty of not sending messages to struggling friends or family because they were stuck for words

Four in 10 Brits have turned to AI to compose messages to friends and family for life’s most delicate moments – including love letters, apologies, and condolences. A survey of 1,500 adults exposed the scale of the nation’s writer’s block when it comes to demonstrating they care, with 50% having skipped reaching out to a struggling friend or relative because they couldn’t find the right words.

This anxiety about saying the wrong thing has also led to 22% never receiving a card during a challenging period in their life. Nevertheless, 64% said even a brief message can be “deeply meaningful”, particularly when experiencing a difficult day.

To stop the trend of saying ‘nothing at all’, 43% are now using artificial intelligence to help generate messages of support or sympathy.

Georgie Smallwood, chief product and technology officer at Moonpig , which commissioned the research, said: “It’s clear even the briefest message or token can mean so much, so we are encouraging people to be braver in those situations when it’s difficult to know exactly what to say.

“While AI tools obviously can’t replace the human touch in these moments, they can be very helpful in scenarios when you really can’t seem to express yourself – there to push you in the right direction and get the words flowing, rather than write them all for you.

“It’s always better to say something than nothing, so take the help where you can get it for life’s difficult moments.”

The study revealed 45% find themselves completely lost for words during difficult periods, confessing they recognise they have feelings to convey but find it challenging to commit them to paper.

The fear of causing offence or distress is the main reason behind this reluctance, with 46% saying they are held back by the fear of saying the wrong thing. What’s more, 44% said crafting a message to mark any significant life moments, let alone delicate ones, feels stressful.

A stark contrast has also been highlighted between different generations, as 25–34-year-olds are struggling the most – 61% of this group admitted to delaying messages and 55% to obsessively deleting and rewriting them before sending. In comparison, only 37% of over 55s reported the same hesitations.

Interestingly, 49% of women admit that translating their thoughts into words is a challenge, compared to 41% of men. However, despite finding the writing process a challenge, women still find the written word easier than expressing their feelings in person.

They are significantly more likely than men to express deep emotions in a card or note rather than face-to-face (47% versus 40%).

Men, meanwhile, have embraced AI more readily to draft messages, being more likely than women to use tools for romantic notes (28% vs 22%) or to find the right words for an apology (26% vs 22%).

Georgie Smallwood, for Moonpig, added: “Every day, customers use our creative tools to help them write messages that really matter, expressing their care, support, sadness, or just to check in and let someone know they’re loved.

“One in two cards sent we send are created using our personalisation tools, making them completely unique.

“It really feels special that we are helping people to stay in touch and say the right thing at the right time.”

A man reportedly had an altercation with a member of the public and then threatened to stab him.

An attempted stabbing in Ramsey has seen police release CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident. On Friday, January 12, a man go out of a cream coloured Suzuki in The Avenue in Ramsey at around 5.35pm.

A man reportedly had an altercation with a member of the pubic. He then threatened to stab him.

The victim was not injured and the man involved left the area shortly afterwards. The police are now asking for anyone who recognises the man or has information about the incident to come forward.

You can report anything to Cambridgeshire Police via its website or by calling 101 quoting incident reference 35/4311/26. You can report anything anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800555111.

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The key to better wellbeing is acting like an Italian grandmother, according to social media’s “nonnamaxxing” trend.

Proponents of the trend say that adopting the lifestyle habits of an Italian nonna will help improve your health and mental wellbeing. The core principles of the trend are simple: make time for your friends and loved ones, eat foods grown from your own garden and cook hearty meals at home.

This latest trend borrows from lifestyle medicine research which shows the same practices being advocated by nonnamaxxing enthusiasts can not only add years to your life, but add life to your years.

No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

So instead of jumping on the nonnamaxxing bandwagon until the next trend rolls around, here are some examples of how you can adopt these habits for life.

Positive social connections

A core tenet of “nonnamaxxing” is making time for friends and loved ones.

Research shows maintaining positive social connections is one of the most helpful factors in supporting health across your lifespan. Social experiences help us regulate emotionally. Not only does this impact our happiness and wellbeing, it also has a whole host of other physiological benefits.

For instance, laughing with our loved ones or holding their hand reduces pain and dampens the stress response. Research also shows social connection can reduce inflammation and improve immune responses.

This doesn’t mean you need to rush out and get married – it’s not just about romantic relationships. Relationships come in many forms. Even micro-moments of positive social interaction – such as having a brief chat with a barista – have measurable health and wellbeing benefits. Research has also found that people who volunteer have a lower risk of catching the common cold.

Collective experiences such as concerts, rituals, dancing, singing or cheering together can also generate “collective effervescence” – a feeling of unity, aliveness and belonging.

When we interact in person, our brains and bodies synchronise with that person in a way that feels good, supports connection and supports health. We feel a greater sense of purpose, belonging and self-worth.

Try gardening

Physical activity and moving every day are among key factors that have been linked with longevity.

But this doesn’t mean you need to hit the gym or go running to see benefits. Even gardening, an activity we might typically associated with an Italian nonna’s lifestyle, has been associated with health benefits.

Gardening is a physically stimulating activity that translates into increased mobility and reduced sedentary behaviour. Reviews also show it’s good for mental health and quality of life.

Due to its multimodal nature, gardening stimulates the brain. We need to plan, coordinate, remember to remember and monitor changes in our garden over time. This type of stimulation supports the development of cognitive reserve – additional healthy brain tissue that helps offset the functional impairments of diseased brain matter as we age. This may explain why activities such as gardening are associated with lower likelihood of being diagnosed with dementia.

Home-cooked meals

Another core tenet of nonnamaxxing is cooking meals at home.

The more frequently you cook at home, the better. Those who cook their own meals tend to have a higher intake of fruit, vegetables and fiber. Cooking at home also means you tend to consume fewer calories, fats and added sugar, which may help regulate blood sugar, reduce body fat and prevent type 2 diabetes.

In the field of positive psychology, cooking is described as an activity that captures key parts of what makes us happy – such as positive emotions and a sense of meaning and accomplishment.

How to get started

If you’re keen to give nonnamaxxing a try, here are a few easy ways to be more like an Italian nonna in your everyday life.

We all know by now that socialising and meeting friends and family is good for us, but if you can’t get together in person make use of technology.

Although technology isn’t quite as good as real-life interactions, try making these interactions intentional when they do happen. Being emotionally responsive, engaged and letting your loved one know you’re there – even while texting – can increase connection and warmth.

And when contacting friends or family, try to call – or at least send a voice message. Social interactions using our voices create stronger social connection compared to text-based interactions.

To give gardening a try, start with something small that grows easily. Even if it’s just a small tomato or strawberry plant you can put on your windowsill. This will give you a sense of purpose, and you’ll be able to enjoy the fruits of your labour, too, which is good for your health.

If you don’t want the responsibility of a garden, getting outside and being in nature – especially in parks or near rivers – will boost both physical activity levels and improve health and wellbeing.

As for cooking your meals at home, don’t feel like you need to start with a complicated recipe. Start with making sandwiches or even snacks and build up to cooking a dinner. Remember, cooking is a skill; you can learn by following a recipe or cooking video.

If you don’t have the time to cook, try eating with someone. Eating together boosts social connection and provides a sense of safety and belonging. If you don’t have anyone to eat with, try picking a food or meal that reminds you of a loved one. This food nostalgia can reproduce feelings of warmth and connection.

While the nonnamaxxing trend may be forgotten in a week, it describes a way of living that’s generations old. Living like an Italian grandma hasn’t just passed the test of time, it’s been tested by health and wellbeing researchers too.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved Kenneth Marsden’s plan for the site.

The two agricultural buildings to be demolished and replaced are next to Silk Hall Cottage on Tockholes Road.

Mr Marsden has been granted approval for a change of use from agricultural to flexible commercial C1 use (hotel).

Owing to the size of the site — less than 150 square metres — the development is likely to be a one- or two-bedroom guest house connected to and serviced from the farm building.

Such short-term accommodation falls under the C1 planning use class for hotels.

Any external alterations or extensions to the building will require planning permission, but the principle of the conversion does not.

A supporting statement says: “The applicant seeks to change the use of two existing agricultural buildings to C1.

“The application site, together with a further parcel of land in close proximity, forms the applicant’s agricultural unit.

“Currently, the agricultural buildings are used for storing machinery and the wider area is used for sheep grazing. Historically, livestock has been kept in the buildings.

“The site is accessed via an existing access point on Silk Hall Road.

“The site adjoins Tockholes Village Hall and is bounded by residential dwellings to the south and an engineering business to the north.

“The wider area consists of verdant countryside.

“The building has been used solely for agricultural purposes since July 3, 2012.

“The cumulative floor space of buildings which have changed use within the agricultural unit will not exceed 1,000 square metres.

“The site subject to this application consists of two buildings — one approximately 10m x 10m and the other 10m x 5m.

“The building closest to Silk Hall benefits from a partially brick-built frontage. Both buildings are partially timber-clad and include a steel frame.

“The buildings have been in situ on the site for more than 26 years.

“Taken as a whole, the site can be considered to constitute buildings for which permitted development rights apply.”