Children's Centres

Sure Start Children's Centres are places where children 0 - 5 years old and their families can have access to integrated services and information from 8am to 6pm.

Children's Centres will play a key part in delivering the five outcomes for children and families that are outlined in the Every Child Matters programme.

At the heart of Children's Centres is the recognition that children's social and emotional well-being and high achievement at school go hand in hand; early intervention and support from multidisciplinary teams of professionals delivering preventative and targeted services is key to improving outcomes for children and families.

The government is committed to delivering a Sure Start Children's Centre for every community by 2010. Westminster City Council will develop 12 Children's Centres in three clusters - North, South and Central, with primary and nursery schools and community nurseries as lead settings. Parents and carers will have access to the following services:

• early learning and care - childcare places, 5 days per week, 48 weeks per year, 10 hours per day
• family support and parental outreach - visits to all new mothers, information on family support services and activities, parenting support and targeted work with fathers
• child and family heath services - antenatal advice, child health promotion, specialist support, promotion lifestyle
• parental involvement and economic well-being - consultation and representation on decision making board, access to training and adult education
• links with Jobcentre Plus.

What is the role of the Children's Centre Project Manager?

• To lead on the delivery of Sure Start Children's Centre capital programme in phase two
• Work with Children's Centre cluster directors - supporting them to meet the core children centre offer.
• Brokering relationship between schools, health services, voluntary organisations, and other city Council services to deliver the core offer
• to establish and develop working links with the Extended School's Programme
• To ensure the Change for Children Programme has an overview of Children's Centre Development and further informs the delivery of extended services
• To work with corporate communications and cluster directors to develop Children's Centres Communications and marketing.

Click here for more Children's Centres information

For further information phone Labibun Nessa on 020 7641 3449, or email: lnessa@westminister.gov.uk