Sure Start Children’s Centres

Sure Start Children’s Centres are at the heart of communities, providing access to services for over 2.4 million children and their families across England, from help and guidance during pregnancy, to support through the important early years of your child’s development.

At Sure Start Children’s Centres you will discover more than you might expect and many services on offer are free – helping you achieve more for yourself and your children.

The majority of children’s centres provide access to the following services:

• Child and family health services, from health visitors to breastfeeding support.
• High quality childcare and early learning.
• Advice on parenting and local childcare options.
• Access to specialist services for familieslike speech therapy, healthy eating advice or help with managing money.
• Help to find work or training opportunities, using links to local Jobcentre Plus offices and training providers.

Many parents are already benefitting from the wide range of services available at Sure Start Children’s Centres. Suprima Pillai works full time as a teacher in East London. Her daughter, Janika, has been attending Oliver Thomas Nursery School and Sure Start Children's Centre for the past 13 months:

“Myself and my husband feel we don’t have to worry about Janika when she is at the children’s centre because she loves going so much and we know that she is safe and well looked after. The care and support she receives there is invaluable. Her early development and education has really been aided by the wide range of services and facilities on offer.”

Children’s Minister Dawn Primarolo says:

“From invaluable childcare and parenting support to health and employment advice, the range of services available through Sure Start is supporting the families of over 2.4 million children. In March 2010 we will have at least 3,500 Sure Start Children’s Centres, one in every community, and I urge all parents and carers to seek out their nearest Sure Start Children’s Centre if they haven’t already done so to make the most of all they have to offer. The Government is determined to continue investing in Sure Start, because we know the early years of a child's life are so important."

To discover more about Sure Start Children’s Centres, visit www.direct.gov.uk/surestart or call 0800 2 346 346.

Information correct 1st February 2010

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