What is a Sure Start Children's Centre?
Sure Start Children's Centres are a key feature of the agenda set out by the government in its 'every child matters' policy. The government is trying to improve outcomes for children in five broad areas:
- Being safe
- Being healthy
- Enjoy and achieve
- Economic wellbeing
- Making a positive contribution
Sure Start Children's Centres will provide a range of services at neighbourhood level supporting all parents and carers. The local range of services will depend on local need and parental choice with the greatest concentration on those children most in need.
Each Children's Centre will provide a base for meetings, advice, consultation and information. The services available in children's centres in South Gloucestershire will be open to all and may include:
- Drop-in sessions and other toddler groups for children and parents and carers
- Support and outreach services to parents and carers and children in need
- Information and advice to parents and carers including parenting support, local childcare provision, local early years provision and early education services
- Support to childminders, for example training and advice
- Links to Job Centre Plus services to support and advise about return to work
- Advice about benefits and adult learning courses
- Access to healthcare and support services, including midwifery, health visitors and child health
- Support and advice on healthy living and prevention of health problems
- Links to local schools and out-of-school and holiday schemes
- Targeted support for children with disabilities or special or additional needs
- Advice and referral to more specialised support services. South Gloucestershire children's centres will not be providing childcare but will provide information to parents on local childcare. We will therefore be working closely with existing services and providers to make sure we get this right.
The Sure Start Children's Centres will form a key part of the strategy to provide extended and multi-agency services to children and young people across the localities.
All Sure Start Centres within South Gloucestershire now offer families with young children an information, advice and guidance service. Our Family Information Advisers can help you find out about local services and community provision, such as library services, toddler and pre-school groups, local childminders etc. We have information kiosks in every Children’s Centre to help you find out about health services, training and jobs, debt advice, benefit entitlements and much more.