Children's centres

 

Children's Centres provide good quality services to children, young people and their families, in order to give every child the best possible start in life, and have a broad and lasting impact on children, their families and the wider community.

The Sure Start Children's Centres programme is based on the idea that providing high-quality integrated services (health, education, family support and care), particularly in disadvantaged areas, leads to positive effects for children, families and their communities, including:

• Increase in the breastfeeding initiation figures
• Reduction in smoking in pregnancy & beyond
• Childhood obesity
• Narrowing the gap in the lowest 20% of the Foundation Stage Profile
• Reduction in the number of workless households
• Swift and easy access to health visitors and maternity services

Children’s Centres are at the heart of the Government’s Every Child Matters: Change for Children Programme. By 2010 there will 3,500 Children’s Centres across the Country – one for every community. 

In Bedfordshire, every community will have access to Children’s Centre services by 2010. Services already available in Children’s Centres are:

•  Access to child & family health services
• Training opportunities and employment advice
• Family support including parenting
• Integrated Early Education & Childcare
• Parental outreach
• Information and advice