Children's centres
Children's Centres offer services for children and families, providing early years education and childcare, health services and family support, all under one roof.
They are a service hub within the community for parents and providers of childcare services for children of all ages - offering a base for childminder networks and a link to other day care provision, out of school clubs and extended schools.
They provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere where families are provided with services that help them: be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achieve; make a positive contribution; achieve economic well being.
Children's Centres also have links with local training and education providers, Jobcentre Plus and Families' Information Services.
Children's Centres Commissioning
Over the summer, Council Members have looked at the issue of Children’s Centres in detail, as part of wider work carried out by the Member-led Commission looking at Early Years.
In September, the Council’s Cabinet agreed to go ahead with the commissioning process for all 21 Children’s Centres. Informed by the work of the Early Years Commission, Members agreed a way forward that would be underpinned by the following principles:
- No Children’s Centre in Calderdale will close but the offer in each Centre will have to adapt to make the best use of the available resource;
- Daycare will continue to be an important way in which the Children’s Centres improve outcomes for children, but how the daycare is offered may change in order to minimise cost and maximise effectiveness and efficiency;
- Children’s Centres will continue to provide services for all Calderdale’s children; vulnerable children will still be a priority within this.
Bids will be invited from voluntary and independent providers to run the Children’s Centres in Calderdale from 1st July 2014.
The current service provision and management in Children’s Centres will continue until 30th June 2014.
More information about the commissioning process will appear here when it is available.
For more information about this process, please contact:
- Name:
- Sarah Manfredi
- Email:
- sarah.manfredi@calderdale.gov.uk
- Telephone:
- 01422 392555
- Mobile:
- 07540 669488
- Post:
- Children and Young People's Services
Calderdale Council
Northgate House
Halifax HX1 1UN.
