Cabinet to discuss children’s centre services

Shropshire’s children’s centre services help children aged under five and their families to benefit from high quality health, care and education support. 

The services are continually evolving in response to feedback and the council is looking to build on this by continuing to consult on the best ways to provide these in the way communities want and need going forward. 

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet will be asked tomorrow (Wednesday 3 August) to support this approach to developing children’s centre services which also includes focusing on: 

• closer partnership working with communities, providers, people using the service and councillors
• making the most of investment already made in communities since children’s centre services were introduced

The council is looking at the way children’s centre services are delivered as it reviews services across the council to investigate better and more efficient ways of working. 

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for health and well-being, said:

“Children’s centres play an important role in preparing children for school, helping parents in their role and improving health and well-being.

“The views and ideas of parents, carers, partners and staff have been instrumental in shaping these services – and will continue to be as we move forward.  They can help us to make sure the services are focusing on those in greatest need.  We want to increase the opportunities for communities to influence the services as they know best how we should drive future developments. 

“If Cabinet supports the recommendations, we will also, as part of this, work to deliver services more closely with our partners, to help us to ensure we are offering what the local community want and need.

“We have to take into account a reduction in the Government’s early intervention grant which funds children’s centres, and we believe that we can achieve £1.5 million efficiencies over the next three years through this approach, whilst maintaining the network of bases from which services are delivered.  We can be more efficient through sharing resources, skills, training, identifying the specific needs within local areas and further developing opportunities within the voluntary and community sector. 

“However the Government has also committed to introducing additional resources for specific areas in future, to support its vision for families with young children, including an increase in the number of health visitors as well as an increase in the number of disadvantaged two year olds accessing early education and childcare.

“We want to give children the best start in life – and, as outlined in the Cabinet report, this will remain at the forefront as we aim to maximise the resources already in place and support further growth and local development through close consultation and partnership working.” 

Part of the recommended approach is to consolidate administrative boundaries of children’s centre areas, to reduce bureaucratic burdens on staff, bring partners together and help to ensure money goes directly to the frontline. 

Looking at closer partnership working would include identifying opportunities with the voluntary and community sector, such as working with childcare providers to offer childcare places which enable adults to make the most of learning and training. 

If approved by Cabinet, consultation will take place in the autumn.