Phase 3 Sure Start Children's Centres

Update 1 - Issued 5th March 2009

Feedback from Consultation, update on Capital Programme and Governance arrangements

1.	On 26th January Cabinet received a report detailing the outcome of consultations on proposals for the roll out of Phase 3 services.
2.	The Cabinet report can be viewed on and downloaded from the Norfolk Schools website at: http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/agenda/cabinet260109agendapdf.pdf The paper is item 17 on the agenda and starts on p.117. The minutes are available at: http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/groups/public/documents/minutes/cabinet260109minspdf.pdf
3.	The report gave details of the proposed plan for the roll out of Phase 3. The list is repeated below and annotated to reflect on-going investigations by officers. It must be emphasised that there are very tight capital constraints with this phase of the programme. This means that, where possible, centres will be provided by modification or adaptation of existing premises in preference to new-build. 16 new centres to be developed in the following areas (by March 2010):
	Methwold (reach 561), by developing the centre hub at the old school house in Weeting. It is planned for the centre to become operational during March 2009. This will be the first Phase 3 Centre to be designated.
	Downham Market (reach 962), by joining up with the Primary Capital Development to develop a centre hub on the site of Clackclose Primary School. Investigations on-going to establish a centre on the infant site once the school has been consolidated as an all through primary on the junior site, projected completion for summer term 2010 - it relies on the DCSF approving the delivery of the Children's Centre hub beyond March 2010.
	King's Lynn (reach 1030), by re-defining the existing Children's Centre areas and developing an additional centre. Further consultation will be carried out with the existing Children's Centres and strategic partners to re-align and maximise the use of existing Children's Centres buildings.
	Aylsham (reach 605), by developing a central hub in the town with additional access points around the school cluster area. Discussions are on-going with the NHS regarding the use of the Ian Sears Centre. Further options are under investigation.
	Reepham (reach 676), by developing a small centre hub on the Reepham Primary School site with additional access points across the remainder of the cluster. Investigations are on-going but a hub in this location would appear to be feasible.
	Attleborough (reach 1240), developing a new centre with services in both the Attleborough and Old Buckenham clusters. Two options are under consideration: - develop a hub on Attleborough Junior School site. - utilise accommodation at the Attleborough Community and Enterprise Centre.
	Wymondham (reach 977), by developing a centre covering the town and surrounding area. Two options are under consideration: - discussions are on-going with the NHS regarding the lease of facilities at the new Windmill Surgery in the town. - the possibility of a hub centre on Ashleigh Infant School site is also being investigated.
	Hethersett (reach 650), by developing a centre covering the town, surrounding area and Cringleford. Investigations are under way to establish a hub on the Woodside Infant School site adjacent to the nursery.
	Loddon (reach 666), by developing a centre covering the town and surrounding area. Investigations are under way to establish a hub on the Loddon Infant School site by expanding the school's extended schools facilities which already deliver some Children's Centre functions.
	Long Stratton (reach 774), by developing a centre linked with the local school and health centre. Investigations are under way to establish a hub on the Manor Field Infant School site, linking with a project to provide a specialist resource base.
	Acle (reach 995), by including Brundall, Blofield, the Plumsteads' and the rural marshland area to the east. Investigations are under way to provide a hub by extending the Acle branch library - this part of Acle provides some key community facilities for the wider area.
	Sprowston (reach 1229), by developing a centre linking closely with the primary schools. Housing development planned for this area would increase the reach population in the longer term. Two basic options are under investigation to link to a foundation stage school in Sprowston: - Sprowston Infant School has accommodation available to meet the requirements for a hub facility with some adaptation - a Specialist Resource Base is also proposed in this location enabling the projects to run side by side. - a stand alone centre could be located on a number of sites in the area. It needs to be emphasised that, wherever the hub is established, outreach services will be delivered across the cluster including the outlying areas in Frettenham, Hainford and Spixworth. Further discussions will be held with these outlying schools to confirm how outreach services will be delivered.
	Dussindale (reach 806), by developing a centre linking closely with the primary school. Discussions with the NHS are on-going regarding the possibility of utilising the Dussindale Walk-In Centre if and when it relocates. In case this option is unavailable, other locations in the Thorpe High School area are to be considered.
	Hellesdon/Drayton/Taverham (reach 1686), by developing one centre to cover the whole area with outreach points in of each of the other high school cluster areas, under one governance and management arrangement. It is intended to locate a hub at a foundation stage school close to the centre of these three areas. Two basic options are under investigation: - Drayton Infant School ~ this would require a new build, probably to replace a classroom displaced by the hub. A separate build is also possible in this location. Investigations are on-going. - Arden Grove Infant School ~ a large good condition mobile may be available for adaptation in partnership with the school. Discussions and investigations are on-going. Again it is to be emphasised that, wherever the hub is located, it is a facility to serve all three areas and further information will be distributed in due course on how outreach will be delivered.
	Broadland (reach 485), we investigated further whether half of the area could possibly link with centres in the North and part with new developments in the Central area. However consultation suggests that this would present logistical problems for Norfolk Community Health Care, who would be provide Health Visiting services to the centre. It has therefore been agreed to develop a small new stand-alone centre taking into consideration future housing developments in the area. Discussions have taken place with the NHS/practice manager regarding a link to the Hoveton GP Surgery but this is not likely to be possible. Investigations into a location at St John's Community Primary School and Nursery will take place.
	Harleston (reach 402), by investigating further whether to develop a small centre in Harleston itself or link it with existing centres it has been agreed to develop Harleston as a small new centre. Investigations suggest it would be possible to link with a school project at Harleston Primary. Merging new areas with existing centres: NB. These locations are to be established by end March 2011. Detailed investigations will follow in due course.
	Dereham (reach 714), by including the development of a centre hub to cover the rest of the town centre and rural areas to the south under the existing Dereham Centre management and governance arrangements. Investigations will take place into establishing a hub location at Toftwood Infant School.
	Part of Costessey (reach 500), by linking this area with Bowthorpe and West Earlham Phase 1 Children's Centre to give a combined reach of 1472.
	South City (Eaton) (reach 554), by re-defining the boundaries of two existing Children's Centres, Earlham and Central City. Investigations will take place into establishing a delivery point.
	Framingham Earl (reach 498), by linking it with East City Centre with an access point in the Framingham Earl area. Investigations will take place into establishing a delivery point.
4.	Governance arrangements
4.1	The decision had already been made by the Project Board to delegate responsibility to the local area teams to support the early stage development of Phase 3 Children's Centres. We have already stated in the consultation document that:
	We would be looking at a 'cluster approach' - allowing a number of centres to work together to provide access to the full core offer services.
	We would be looking at smaller centres or 'clusters' of centres sharing one advisory board and,
	Centres operating in a cluster may be managed by one manager/co-ordinator employed by the local authority to oversee the centres within an area. In order to progress smoothly with the roll out of Phase 3 the Local Authority will continue to take the lead for the ongoing development or 'design' stage of all Phase 3 centres up until the point of designation. During this 'design' stage longer term governance arrangements will be discussed with all parties involved with a view to clarifying the cluster approach and how this will work in practice.
4.2	For those new areas which are to be merged with existing centres, the Lead Partner already in place will have overall responsibility for the roll-out of Children's Centre services into these new areas.
5.	What happens next
5.1	The capital proposals will be considered by the Capital Priorities Group, which includes Cabinet Members and schools at their next meeting on March 27th 2009. All schools will be informed of the decision on the final shortlist of locations in due course.
5.2	For further information please contact:

Sarah Spall
Senior Development Officer - Childcare Development
Email
Tel: 01603 638158

Simon Conner
Pupil Place Planning Officer
Email
Tel: 01603 222503

Stephen Edwards
Capital Projects Planning Manager South, East and West
Email
Tel: 01603 224456

5.3	The next Update sheet for all partners on development of Phase 3 Sure Start Children's Centres will be published in July 2009.