• Stafford-based organisation Baby Bank supports hundreds of families with essential items for babies and young children for free.
• The group relies on volunteers and donations from residents and businesses.
• Family Hubs provide one-stop-shop for a variety of services.

• Plan for improving and repairing Staffordshire schools over 2026/27 period approved by Cabinet.

• Capital Programme for Schools 2026/27 will see facility upgrades and building repairs at over 60 schools.

• Improvements also include sustainability upgrades to improve insulation and be better for the environment.

• Plan for improving and repairing Staffordshire schools over 2026/27 period to be discussed at Cabinet on Wednesday 15 April.

• Capital Programme for Schools 2026/27 will see facility upgrades and building repairs at over 60 schools.

• Improvements also include sustainability upgrades to improve insulation and be better for the environment.

• Libraries across Staffordshire will have their own Helpful Bear cuddly toy for children as part of a county council school attendance campaign

• Helpful Bear helps children express their feelings and has a backpack where children can place worries that they have written down

• The cuddly toy and associated workbooks, also available in libraries, have been used in schools successfully in helping children overcome barriers to learning

• The Ignite programme, teaching enterprise skills to young people, has returned for its sixth year.

• New to the programme is a Dragon's Den-style competition, where students will be invited to put together a business plan and pitch it to a panel of judges, with prizes up for grabs.

• Ignite has helped more than 30,000 young people across Staffordshire to develop business skills.

• Children can book their place for free Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme activities.

• Runs from Monday 30 March to Friday 10 April 2026.

• Teenagers also can take part in development and training opportunities.

• Nine out of ten Staffordshire parents (93.2%) have been allocated their first choice secondary school for September, with almost 99% securing one of their top three preferences.
• The results exceed last year’s national and regional average of around 83% and reflect close working between the council, schools and neighbouring authorities.
• Families are being informed from today (Monday)

Janet Higgins, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Education and SEND, has responded to Government proposals to change the way support is delivered for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

• Residents can now enter a competition to design a Staffy statue for a major new public art trail.

• A copy of Staffy's outline can be downloaded online or collected from any Staffordshire library.

• Up to three winners will be picked, whose designs will be brought to life by professional local artists.

• Staffordshire parents Steph and Matt praise Staffordshire County Council's Hungry Little Minds campaign for the help its given them in raising their daughter, as they become the 8,000th family to sign up.

• The campaign gives advice on actions they can take with their child at each age and stage, including to read and talk to their baby from the moment they're born.

• It launched in 2020 and sends personalised emails to parents twice a month.