Phase 2 Sure Start Children's Centres

Background
Children's Centres are crucial to the delivery of the Governments 10 year Childcare Strategy and contribute to improving the child outcomes set out in Every Child Matters; being safe, healthy, enjoying and achieving, economic well being and making a contribution. The Government is advocating a shift to more co-located, multi-disciplinary services that provide personalised support to children and their families. Children's Centres will be a key building block towards this goal.

Local Authorities are taking the lead on Children's Centre developments, but will be working in partnership with key agencies and parents and carers to create permanent, mainstream community services.

Norfolk is beginning the consultation process for Phase 2 Children's Centres. The strategy is to develop and open up to 26 new centres by March 2008 with the focus being on developing services within the 30% most disadvantage areas (Super Output Areas). The aim is to create a network of Children's Centres across the County by 2010 (Phase 3 2008-10).

What is a Children's Centre

• Will serve a community with about 800 children under five years old, although in rural areas the numbers may be smaller
• Brings together services for young children
• Supports parents/carers both in their parenting and in their aspirations towards employment.
• Provide a preventative approach to health problems and ensure that the foundations of good health are laid down early.
• Make use of schools, health centres, community centres, family centres, voluntary and private provision
• Works towards Sure Start Public Service Agreement and Service Development Targets

Children's Centre Services
The following 'core offer' services will be provided in each Children's Centre

• Early years provision (i.e. integrated childcare and early learning)
• Family support and parental outreach
• Child and family health services
• Parental involvement
• Links with Jobcentre Plus
• Links with schools and Childcare Information Service
• Support for childminders

Other services may be provided depending on local need

Target for Norfolk

• To create up to 26 Children's Centres by March 2008
• To reach 10,000 children through Children's Centres by 2008
• To reach 41,175 children through Children's Centres by 2010

Funding allocation for Norfolk for 2006-2008

• £3.9 million - capital
• £3.9 million - revenue
• £1 million - rural uplift

Children's Centre targets

• Reach 30% of children living in the Children's Centre area on a monthly basis
• Reach 100% of children living in the Children's Centre area on a yearly basis
• Improve children's communication; social and emotional development so that children reach a good level of development by the end of the Foundation Stage
• Reducing the proportion of children living in households where no-one is working

Consultation During September and October the Early Years and Childcare Team, in consultation with partners and stakeholders will be identifying the needs in the 30% disadvantaged areas and looking at existing services and buildings on which to build.

By early October it is expected that these will have been identified and the consultation paper and Options document will be published. The consultation deadline will be the 18th November 2005 and by the end of November 2005 all new Children's Centres will have been identified, with more detailed plans to be developed in partnership with key stakeholders and parents/carers by March 2006.

For further information about Phase 2 Children's Centres or the consultation please contact Sarah Spall Childcare Development Officer e-mail Sarah Spall or your Early Years and Childcare Area Development Office:

Norwich 01603 62 22 92 North 01603 62 22 92
East 01493 33 57 40 South 01493 33 57 40
West 01553 66 76 20