Surveying 20 children’s centres in six local authorities, this small scale survey found over half of the centres are providing effective integration of services in supporting children and their parents making life changing differences. Leadership and management are rated good and outstanding in 15 of the centres visited.
Learning and development of children and parents is also good or outstanding in over half of the centres visited, with some schools reporting that centres are helping children’s attitude to learning and social development as they move into primary school.
Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, said:
“These children’s centres provide a range of invaluable services in supporting children and their families in the some of the most disadvantaged communities. The enthusiasm and commitment among professionals in the centres working in education and care, health and social care is evident and deserves recognition.
“However, more partnership work needs to be developed and supported and we recommend that schools work more closely with children’s centres. This will help to track the development of children who have received support from the centres.”
Parents from all social backgrounds are positive about the integrated services provided within their communities. In Gainsborough Early Years children’s centre, parents work with the director of a food cooperative. The centre’s intention is to provide the community with high-quality organic fruit and vegetables sourced locally and at prices lower than in the supermarkets. Parents are very enthusiastic about the initiative and are intending to take it forward in the community café that is under construction.
The successful integration of services has made life-changing differences to some parents and their children, particularly for families with children who have learning difficulties, disabilities and delays in physical development. These children and their parents are well supported, with good early interventions and prompt referrals.
However, children’s centres serving rural communities faced particular challenges. The levels of need are similar to those in inner city centres, but geographic isolation adds an additional layer of difficulty and cost in bringing services to their communities.
In overcoming such challenges, Wainfleet Magdalen children’s centre provide support for the most vulnerable families living on small and isolated estates by making home visits, assist the newly formed resident’s committee and have established a small satellite centre.
The report makes a number of recommendations including that the Department for Children, Schools and Families should work with the Department for Work and Pensions, to improve the joint working between Jobcentre Plus and children’s centres. Children’s centres should improve the use of self-evaluation through quantitative analysis of the outcomes for children and their families. Local authorities should encourage schools and children’s centres to work more closely together.
The ‘The impact of integrated services on children and their families in Sure Start children’s centres’ report can be found at Ofsted website: Publicationd and Research
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