The government has given Wiltshire a target of providing twenty Children’s Centres by 2008. Children’s Centres integrate childcare, education, social care and health services for children under 5 and their families. A Children’s Centre should be a ‘one-stop-shop’ delivering easily accessible services for families with young children.
Each Children’s Centre should offer:
- Early education integrated with childcare
- Childcare available for 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year, 10 hours a day
- Childcare places open to all with priority given to disadvantaged families
- Support for local childminders
- Early identification of children with special needs and disabilities with inclusive services and support for families
- Links to local schools and out-of-school activities
- Family Support and Parental Outreach
- Visits to all families in the catchment area within 2 months of a child’s birth
- Information for parents or carers about the range of services and activities in the area
- Support and advice on parenting
- Access to specialist, targeted services for families who need them
- Specific activities which increase the involvement of fathers
- Child and family health services
- Antenatal advice
- Child Health promotion programme
- Information and guidance on breast feeding, hygiene, nutrition and safety
- Support and care for parents suffering antenatal or postnatal depression
- Speech and language and other specialist support
- Help in stopping smoking
- Links with Jobcentre Plus
- Support for parents wishing to take up training or employment
