Staffordshire County Council will launch a consultation on 8th October on its plans to overhaul children’s centres across the county.
Under its plans, responsibility for Manor Hill Children’s Centre, which is based at Manor Hill First School in Walton, will transfer to the school. The same arrangement would also happen for Barlaston Children’s Centre, which is based at the village’s first school. The management of the centres – and what happens to them – would sit directly with the schools under the county’s plans. Questions over whether the schools will have the budget required to run full children’s centre services if they get responsibility for them will be asked during the consultation, no doubt.
Elsewhere in the county, some children’s centres face direct closure as the county looks to provide more help for families “where they need it, rather than in fixed places”.
Mike Lawrence, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Children and Community Safety, said: “The first five years are vital for a child’s future in every aspect, but only 25 per cent of families with under-fives are benefiting from the council’s commissioned early years services and only a quarter of these are from vulnerable families. Fifty-four per cent of Staffordshire children are judged to have reached a good stage of development by the end of their first year at school and at the same time in Staffordshire we have more children in care, more children at risk and more children in need of help.
“The current approach isn’t working. We need to act to change how young children and their families are supported and by focusing on providing the right information and guidance, as well as the right services in the right place to those who really need them, rather than spending money on under-used buildings, I believe we can provide a better service to every young family in the county.”
The eight-week consultation will begin on 8th October and parents, partners and stakeholders are encouraged to have their say. More information about the proposals is available at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/beststart where you can register now to receive updates.
More information about the current Manor Hill Children’s Centre activities by clicking HERE
- Barlaston Children's Centre
- children's centres
- Manor Hill Children's Centre
- schools
- Staffordshire County Council
