Minister praises Charterhouse Arc

Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Minister for Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare, was on hand to tour the building, interact with the children, and offer words of appreciation. She praised the building as "fantastic", and was impressed that it was designed especially for the children-lower counters, smaller chairs, and a cushioned play area caters specifically to their needs.

Aside from an ingeniously designed structure (re-designed by Walters & Cohen), the real attraction of the Arc is a well-organized, extremely dedicated staff. Unlike some nurseries which assign its staff to an area of learning, the Arc assigns each of its workers to a specific child, and that pair will remain together until the child leaves the centre.

Since the Arc can accommodate children aged 3 months to 5 years, lasting bonds will be formed. The Arc will not only aid children in learning letters, numbers, and art, but also provide a basis for healthy interpersonal communication skills.

Baroness Ashton's ideal of moving toward "a fully integrated approach to the delivery of services for young children, their families, and their communities" is realised with the opening of the Arc.