» Cheddleton Community Centre

New Children’s Centre Services at Cheddleton Community Centre - Work began on 22nd September with an expected completion time of Christmas 2009. Additionally, a small (internal) development at Westwood First School in Leek is at the very early stages of being developed. This means a cohesive, integrated delivery plan for our Westwood cluster. Both venues will serve our children, parents and the wider community, enhancing existing provision and developing new initiatives.

If you would like to find out more please contact the cluster co-coordinator Dawn Forester M: 07976191289 or T: 01538 483835

More information:

This will be a Phase 3 development, local authorities will be working towards delivering 3,500 Sure Start Children’s Centres in total, nationally, by 2010, offering universal access to children’s centre services. All Phase 3 centres will be situated outside the most disadvantaged areas and will therefore offer a less intensive level of support than those Phase 1 and 2 centres serving families in the 30% most disadvantaged areas. Local authorities have greater flexibility in deciding what services should be provided in the more affluent areas and this must be based on an assessment of local needs.

There is a universal level of service that must be provided in Sure Start Children’s Centres serving families in less disadvantaged areas. It is important that families, no matter what their situation, feel the benefit of better integrated, accessible services delivered through the children’s centre in their community. In the main, children’s centres will build on existing private, voluntary, independent or statutory services for children and families; for example schools, health centres, nurseries and family centres. We expect children’s centres services to have a focal point, with signage that makes it a clearly identifiable Sure Start Children’s Centre. There must be some form of activity for children and families on site. Additional outreach sites may be necessary to improve access for parents especially where families with children under five are dispersed over a wide area.

Centres in the most affluent areas offering the least intensive services must ensure they have a minimum core staffing infrastructure (see model A in Appendix 1). During opening hours, the centre must always be staffed by someone who is able to offer information and advice to families and can help families access the services they need.

Sure Start Children’s Centres may offer a range of other services for parents and their children, based on local demand, but funding for these must come from other sources. Arrangements should be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain relevant and appropriate.

Sure Start Children’s Centres serving less disadvantaged families are not required to provide early years provision (integrated early learning and full day care) within the centre, but they may do so where there is sufficient demand and inadequate existing private, independent or voluntary provision. The local authority’s sufficiency data will be particularly helpful here. The staffing requirements, including teacher involvement, and the opening hours outlined for centres in the most disadvantaged areas must be met where early years provision is part of a centre’s services. See Chapter 3 of Sure Start Children’s Centres Planning and Performance Management Guidance (2006) (www.surestart.gov.uk). Where only sessional or drop-in activities for children are offered, children’s centres are not bound by the requirement to be open for 10 hours a day. These centres will have more flexibility over opening hours and should consult with local parents to establish what will best meet local need.

Local authorities were advised that children’s centres in the first two phases should serve, on average, 800 children under five. In Phase 3 centres in rural or less densely populated areas may serve smaller numbers, say 600, while in more affluent areas with less intensive need numbers may be larger, say 1200.