Our Children's Centres

What are Children's Centres?

Children’s Centres are where families with children aged from birth to five years can receive services, information and help from multi-disciplinary teams of professionals in the areas of childcare, education and health.

The role of Children's Centres

The Government have outlined a ten year strategy for childcare. Their aim is to give parents more choice in how they balance work and family life and to ensure children are given the best start in life.

The Children’s Centres plays a key role in this strategy by providing:-

• Early education integrated with childcare
• Family support and outreach to parents
• Child and family health services

The provision of these services will contribute to achieving the overall objective of the Government’s strategy - improved outcomes for parents, children and the wider community.

Aims of the Children's Centres

• To improve educational outcomes for children and parents
• To improve health outcomes for children and families
• To make it easier for parents to study and work
• To help lone parents access work and training opportunities
• To reduce child poverty
• To reduce crime rates and build stronger and safer communities

Core services that Children's Centres will provide

• Good quality early learning combined with full day care provision
• Parental outreach
• Family support services
• A base for a childminder network
• Child and family health services, including ante-natal services
• Support for children and parents with special needs

• Holiday Club 5-12 years
• Effective links with Jobcentre Plus, local training providers and further and higher education institutions
• Management and workforce training