Sure Start Childrens Centres update from DCSF

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Sure Start Childrens Centres - update from DCSF
DH

• Peter Gibb DCSF
• Sally Anderson - DH

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Were on track to deliver a Sure Start Childrens
Centre for every community

• 3,109 designated childrens centres at end
  September.
• 24 local authorities have already achieved 100
  designations across all phases.
• 3 local authorities have completed the programme
  (designations and full core offer).

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Sure Start Childrens Centres are becoming a
universal service

• The Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and
  Learning Act 2009 includes four sections giving
  Sure Start Childrens Centres a statutory basis
  and introducing a duty for Ofsted to inspect
  centres.
• This means childrens centres will become an
  established part of universal services available
  for young children and their families.

• Royal Assent was given on 12 November and the
  legislation comes into force during January 2010.
  
• Statutory guidance is being developed and will
  be consulted on early next year.

4
Ofsted is developing an inspection framework for
Sure Start Childrens Centres

• 19 pilot inspections completed. 41 more in
  second phase to end of November.
• Inspection framework will be evaluated in light
  of experiences in pilot but feedback so far is
  positive.
• Focus for inspection is at centre level, not
  individual services.
• Inspectors will be looking at
• Impact of integrated working on Every Child
  Matters outcomes.
• Leadership and management, including value for
  money and financial management.
• Inspection cycle being developed, including
  options for integrating with other inspections
  e.g. Early Years settings, schools.

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Were starting a long-term evaluation of Sure
Start Childrens Centres

• By 2011, 1bn pa invested directly to support
  services in childrens centres (in addition to
  the mainstream resources provided via the NHS and
  through Jobcentre Plus).
• Long-term evaluation of childrens centres
  starting now, scheduled to finish in 2014.
• Evaluation will be undertaken by a consortium led
  by NatCen, the University of Oxford and Frontier
  Economics.
• Research involves a number of different strands,
  considering use, reach, impact and cost-benefits
  of Children's Centres, including interviews with
  a sample of LAs, centres and parents.
• DCSF thank you in advance for your co-operation
  with this important research.

6
Were building national awareness of Sure Start
Childrens Centres

• Important that all parents know where their local
  childrens centre is and the services it
  provides.
• A targeted communications campaign kicked off in
  September to build awareness. Involving local,
  regional and national strands including a
  advertising, parents road-show, door drops, and
  regional press and radio activity. More later
  today
• Communications will only work if there is a clear
  connection between it and the buildings that
  mothers and fathers push prams past each day.

• All centres have been given a Sure Start
  Childrens Centre sign to display alongside
  existing signage at their entrance (or at
  sessional venues).

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Sure Start Childrens Centre Week 2009

• Over 1100 childrens centres took part, helping
  to showcase the impact centres are having in
  local communities. From open days to teddy bears
  picnics, centres across the country threw open
  their doors to the local community
• Government Ministers joined in the celebrations
  including Ed Balls (DCSF), Helen Goodman (DWP),
  Barbara Follett (East of England) and Jonathan
  Shaw (South East).
• So far there have been over 320 pieces of
  coverage in local and regional press with more
  likely as celebrations continue

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Were developing training for practitioners
delivering outreach from childrens centres

• Many childrens centres have very effective
  outreach teams.
• The Department is currently looking with CWDC at
  ways in which the Children's Plan commitment to
  provide new training opportunities for some 5,000
  practitioners to further build on good practice
  - would best be delivered.

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Childrens Schools and Families Select Committee
Inquiry into Sure Start Childrens Centres

• Select Committee conducting an Inquiry into Sure
  Start Childrens Centres. It will explore the
  following issues
• How models of Childrens Centres have developed
  as the programme spreads from the most deprived
  neighbourhoods
• The range and effectiveness of services provided
  by Childrens Centres
• Funding, sustainability and value for money
• Staffing, governance, management and strategic
  planning
• How well Childrens Centres work with other
  partners and services, especially schools and
  health services
• Whether services are being accessed by those most
  in need and how effective they are for the most
  vulnerable.
• Senior officials and Ministers will appear before
  the Committee

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DH and DCSF are working together to strengthen
health services in childrens centres

• Important in delivering the pregnancy to 5
  Healthy Child Programme (screening, health and
  development reviews, health promotion and
  parenting support, immunisations).
• Joint work underway to support implementation of
  the pregnancy to 5 Healthy child Programme,
  including
• Updated PCHR and growth charts May 2009.
• Baby Lifecheck launched (part of Early Years
  Lifecheck) August 2009.
• 2-2.5 yr guidance autumn 2009.
• Revised Pregnancy book and Birth to Five autumn
  2009.
• Expansion of the Family Nurse Partnership 70
  sites by 2011.
• Healthy Child Programme Commissioning review
  underway.
• National Support Teams (NSTs) are providing
  consultancy-style, expert and peer tailored
  delivery support to health partnerships in
  England Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), NHS Trusts
  and Local Authorities.
• Active engagement with Children's Centres to
  deliver comprehensive breastfeeding services that
  promote skilled advice and support to
  disadvantaged families.

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DH and DCSF are working together to strengthen
health services in childrens centres

• Tackling health inequalities in infant mortality
  is a government priority, and gap has narrowed
  over each of the last 3yrs.
• Start4Life a sister brand to the Change4Life
  programme about establishing new healthy living
  practices at the start of a childs life.
• Increasing initiation and sustainability of
  breastfeeding
• rates to reduce inequalities in health
  outcomes.
• Through the Action on Health Visiting Programme,
  The Unite/CPHVA Annual Conference was held on
  14-16 October and launched the publication
  Getting it right for children and families-
  Maximising the contribution of the health
  visiting. Next steps will include DH and DCSF
  working together with stakeholders to take this
  work forward.
• We are also exploring what more can be done to
  support information sharing between health
  colleagues (e.g. midwives, health visitors,
  community nurses) and childrens centres.

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Westminster Hall Debate Sure Start Progression

• On Thursday 15 October Dawn Primarolo the
  Minister for Children, Young People and Families
  led a debate in the House to talk about Sure
  Start Childrens Centres.
• A positive and encouraging debate
• Many good stories across the parties of local
  sure start initiatives
• Support from all sides of the House for Sure
  Start
• Sure Start Childrens Centres acknowledged
  contribution towards the child poverty agenda
• Our joint work with Department of Health
• Continuation of good work building confident
  communities of the future
• Need more men working in centres!
• Link to the debate
• http//www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmhans
  rd.htm

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Going forward, its really important for us to

• Deliver a childrens centre for every community.
• Ensure all childrens centres move to deliver
  their full core offer within 2 years of
  designation, with support from local authorities
  and Childrens Trust partners.
• Demonstrate impact and obtain regular feedback on
  the services offered, to ensure they are the ones
  people really want. For on-going quality
  improvement, and in preparation for Ofsted
  inspections.
• Ensure that all families, particularly the most
  disadvantaged, know where their local childrens
  centre is and are aware of the services their
  childrens centre provides.

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Useful websites

• Sure Start website now mainstreamed in to the
  Every Child Matters workforce website
• http//www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/earlyyear
  s/surestart
• The Sure Start Childrens Centre Directory (aimed
  at parents) http//www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoI
  tOnline/DG_10034063
• Sure Start Childrens Centre Communications
  toolkit available at
• http//www.dcsf.gov.uk/campaigns/childrens_centre
  s
• Together for Children
• http//www.childrens-centres.org/default.aspx

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And finally

• Do you know someone who has made a difference
  either in their field or work or in a voluntary
  capacity within the community? 
• Nominating someone for an Honour can be done by
  individuals or public/private sector
  organisations as long as they are familiar with
  the work of the candidate. 
• Step by step information about the Honours
  process can be found at www.direct.gov.uk

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Contact Details

• Peter Gibb
• DCSF, Childrens Centres and Extended Services
  Division
• Peter.Gibb_at_dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
• Sally Anderson
• Department of Health
• Sally.Anderson_at_dh.gsi.gov.uk