somerset

Send in Somerset families ‘systematically failed’, say parents

Send in Somerset families ‘systematically failed’, say parents

Michelle RuminskiSomerset political reporter, Taunton andBea SwallowWest of EnglandBBCMum-of-three Hayley says trying to secure special educational need provisions for her children has been "exhausting"Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) say statutory deadlines are being missed by the system designed to support them.Only 6.5% of education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which are legally binding documents which set out the specific Send support individuals should get, were issued by Somerset Council within the statutory 20-week…

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CrossCountry RMT rail workers’ strike will cause ‘significant disruption’

CrossCountry RMT rail workers’ strike will cause ‘significant disruption’

Sammy JenkinsWest of EnglandPA MediaRMT union members will walk out on Saturday 18 OctoberRail passengers are being warned of "significant disruption" ahead of planned industrial action and strikes.All CrossCountry services will be impacted as members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) walk out on Saturday 18 October. The firm runs long-distance series that stretch from the South West of England to Scotland.The industrial action includes RMT union members in customer service roles.Shiona Rolfe, CrossCountry's…

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Two new public woods in South West to provide sustainable timber

Forestry England has unveiled plans for two new woodlands in Devon and Somerset, adding more than 247 acres (100 hectares) of forest to the counties.Okement Wood, covering 205 acres (83 hectares), will be located between Abbeyford Wood and Berrydown Plantation near Okehampton, on the northern edge of Dartmoor. Blackwell Wood, spanning 52 acres (21 hectares), will be next to Druid's Combe Wood and Langridge Wood, north of Treborough in eastern Exmoor.The woodlands will be open to the public…

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Flames visible for miles from Dartmoor blaze

Fire crews were called to a large blaze on open moorland, with flames visible from miles away.The fire stretched about 490ft (150m) near the old shooting ranges at Rippon Tor on Dartmoor, said Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service which was called just after 21:00 BST on Thursday.Teams from Buckfastleigh, Ashburton and Bovey Tracey fire stations responded, supported by a water bowser from Torquay and an all-terrain vehicle from Exeter. Crews used wildfire beaters to contain the…

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University maths schools are driving social mobility and success, analysis shows

University-sponsored maths sixth forms such as the Exeter Mathematics School are having a transformative impact on the lives of young people across England, a landmark new study shows. The independent evaluation by the Observatory for Mathematical Education (OME) finds the specialist schools boost attainment and progression and significantly widen participation in mathematics and STEM. The analysis shows female students, those from under-represented ethnic groups, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds all progress at higher rates to mathematically intensive…

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New partnership set to strengthen regional education for the South West.

Andy Berry, CBE of UCS College Group and Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice Chancellor, University of Exeter signed of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step towards strengthening regional education, research, and skills development across the South West. The collaboration aims to explore joint initiatives in several key areas, including improving education outcomes, fostering social mobility, developing innovative healthcare solutions, and enhancing employer-led training. The partnership will also seek to make collaborative bids for regional…

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Furniture trader duped vulnerable customers in Devon and Somerset

Furniture trader duped vulnerable customers in Devon and Somerset

BBCPeter Kitson was jailed for 15 months after he pleaded guilty to fraudulent tradingThe "greedy and arrogant" boss of a mobility furniture firm which scammed vulnerable customers out of £65,000 has been jailed.Exeter Crown Court heard staff at Peter Kitson's business, Mobility Furniture Company, used aggressive and pressurised sales techniques to carry out fraudulent deals on elderly people between 2015 and 2018 across Devon and Somerset.The court was told Kitson was fully aware of the tactics being used,…

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Woman and child rescued after tree falls on car in Plymouth

Emergency services had to rescue a woman and a child who were trapped inside a car after a tree fell on it. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said crews attended Haye Road in Plymstock, Plymouth, on Saturday at about 11:15 BST.The fire service said police and the ambulance service also attended and removed the occupants, who were checked at the scene by paramedics. The incident was handed over to Devon and Cornwall Police. Source link

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Major incident declared on M5 after car transporter fire

A major incident was declared by emergency services after a stretch of the M5 was closed earlier in both directions due to a fire on a lorry carrying electric vehicles. The motorway was shut in Devon between junction 28 at Cullompton and junction 29 for Exeter at about 06:30 BST and two the southbound lanes reopened at about 18:00.It said a car transporter carrying nine electric vehicles caught fire on the southbound carriageway.The northbound side of the road…

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South West Water AI trial ‘is cutting sewage pollution’

South West Water AI trial ‘is cutting sewage pollution’

Kirk EnglandSouth West environment and tourism correspondentBBCAI is being used to help identify changes in water levels in the network that could indicate if a blockage is developing in a sewerA trial that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to predict if sewers are becoming blocked has helped cut pollution, South West Water has said. The AI analysed data from 12,000 sensors on the network, monitoring how water levels were rising and falling, to help determine if a sewer is…

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Plymouth-based frigate tests new missile off Norway

On-board cameras show a Royal Navy warship successfully firing a powerful new type of missile for the first time.HMS Somerset, based in Plymouth, launched the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) during a training exercise in Norway, working alongside Norwegian and Polish forces. The missile can hit targets more than 100 miles (160km) away and is designed to replace the older Harpoon system.The NSM is faster, more accurate, and harder to detect, the navy said.Cdr Matt Millyard, HMS Somerset's commanding…

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Exmouth house fire extinguished after eight-hour battle

A blaze which engulfed a house and garden for nearly eight hours in a seaside town is believed to have been started accidentally, firefighters said.Several crews from Devon and Somerset Fire Service were called out to the incident on Claredale Road in Exmouth at about 12:50 BST on Friday and led to warning to avoid the area.The service said the blaze had started in the garden of the property before spreading to the house. All people and a…

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