COUNCIL MEETING, 8 December 2005

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE LEAD MEMBER FOR CHILDREN'S SERVICES

AND EXECUTIVE MEMBER WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EDUCATION

PART II

DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN'S CENTRES IN HAMPSHIRE

1. The Government has set a national strategy to develop 2,500 Sure Start Children's Centres throughout the Country by 2008. Within Hampshire, six such children's centres have already been designated with a further two working towards this. Their aim is to serve families living in the twenty per cent most disadvantaged wards of the County. The Government has set a target of a further fifty-three centres in Hampshire by 31 March 2008. The total number of children under 5, expected to access services at the Children's Centres during 2008 is 42,559.

2. Sure Start Children's Centres are a key element in seeking to achieve the objectives set out in the Government's Every Child Matters programme. The intention is to improve the outcomes for all young children and, in particular, to close the gap between the outcome for those most disadvantaged children and others. The network of centres are to offer information, advice and support to parents and carers as well as early years provision of integrated childcare and education, health services and employment advice for disadvantaged families. The actual services which are provided will depend upon local need and on parental choice.

3. In responding to the above Government initiative, the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services has given approval to a strategy for the location of the required children's centres in Hampshire and given permission to consult with local families and other stakeholders within the fifty-three Notional Catchment Areas of Hampshire identified by using the Government's Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) and child population figures. As a result, it is hoped to develop children's centres in a way that best reflects the needs of the communities and the aspirations for their children. A copy of the report approved by the Executive Lead Member is in the Members' Rooms. Among other things, the report lists the target wards, the number of children under 5 in each, the IMD for the wards concerned and the model of children's centres being recommended. There is to be a report back to the Children's Services Policy Review Committee and to the Executive Lead Member for Children's Services following consultation and the more detailed planning of provision.

4. The above decisions support aims 1, 4 and 5 of the Corporate Strategy.

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