OFSTED’s report published this week (2 August) finds that in spite of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the council’s Children’s Services has ensured that “…the vast majority of children in care benefit from living in placement arrangements that meet their individual needs.” The report highlights the significant recent progress made by the Children’s Services leadership team to create more local placements for children and young people, includin

The school’s Executive Head Teacher Joanne Kelly was joined by Councillor David Longstaff, Barnet Council’s Deputy Leader and lead member for education, Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers, and students, on a tour of the building in Whetstone which is due for completion in the summer of 2022.

At a meeting of full Council on 27 July, councillors voted to approve the business case for the Hendon Hub, paving the way for the development proposals to progress.

The decision means that planning applications for the scheme, which have been developed in partnership with Middlesex University, can be submitted over the coming weeks.

Residents will then have a further opportunity to provide their feedback as part of the statutory planning consultation process.

Councillor Caroline Stock, Chair of the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board said “I am delighted to launch the new Barnet Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy that sets out a vision for creating a borough of health, working together with our residents and other partners. Having the right strategy that articulates commitments and vision is the first step, and importantly what will count next is how we deliver our ambitions together.

The Town Centre Heroes initiative is part of the Discover Barnet campaign and aims to celebrate the people behind Barnet’s town centres that have gone above and beyond to support their community. We want to honour the everyday heroes who make a difference in our borough.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has followed the rules since the start of the pandemic. Without the many sacrifices that we have all made, we would not have been able to regain many of our freedoms today. I also want to thank the thousands of Barnet residents who have had or are planning to have both doses of their vaccine as vaccination remains the strongest weapon we have in the fight against COVID-19.

Barnet Council and the NCL CCG invite everyone aged 18 and over to get their COVID-19 vaccine on a special vaccination bus which will make stops in Barnet throughout the summer.

A free shuttle bus is also operating between Oaklodge Medical Centre in Edgware and StoneX Stadium, taking people on a round trip to get their jab.

How to stay safe in hot weather

Stay out of the heat:

• Keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm
• If you have to go out in the heat, walk in the shade, apply sunscreen and wear a hat and light scarf
• Avoid extreme physical exertion
• Wear light, loose-fitting cotton clothes

Cool yourself down:

Therefore, everybody needs to remain cautious and follow the guidance on keeping yourself and others safe. This includes limiting close contact with those you don’t live with, meeting outdoors, washing your hands regularly, letting fresh air into homes and wearing a face covering in crowded areas such as public transport. People should still work from home if they can and gradually return to workplaces.