Agenda item

The Early Years and Childcare Strategy Manager, School Improvement Section, submitted a report detailing how Rotherham was making progress towards the establishment of Children’s Centres by the 31^st March, 2006.

The proposals and details set out in the report covered the following :-

Previous reports have informed members about Rotherham’s Children’s Centres Strategy.Children’s Centres will serve children and families in Rotherham’s most disadvantaged communities across the borough and will provide integrated education and care for young children, health services, and family support. In addition, they will also act as a service hub within the community for parents and providers of childcare services for children of all ages - offering a base for childminder networks and a link to other day care provision, out of school clubs and extended schools. Centres will also have links with local training and education providers, Jobcentre Plus and Children’s Information Services. The centres will bring together locally available services and integrate management and staffing structures but will not necessarily be developed on one site.

Implementation plans were submitted to the Sure Start Unit for Ministerial approval.  Approval has been received for the following areas:-

·        Central – Ferham Primary School and the Ferham Sure Start Centre

• Dinnington - DinningtonCommunity Primary School                                 

·        Dalton - DaltonFoljambe School

• Herringthorpe – Arnold Centre

·        Thrybergh – Thrybergh Primary School

·        Wath – Wath VictoriaPrimary School

• Greasbrough - Rockingham Junior and Infant School.

Approval was awaited for the Maltby proposal to establish a Children’s Centre at the Maltby Sure Start Centre.

Guidance from the Sure Start Unit for approval of Capital Build Projects has been received.   A web-based system will be used to collect data about each capital project.

The role of the Local Authority will involve:-

• Active project management of the capital programme.

• Ensuring advice, guidance and support to individuals, organisations and agencies involved in development of provision – practical support re: buildings, capital and business planning, pre-registration advice.

• Commissioning processes that ensure accountability and delivery across the sectors.

The original purpose of the Children’s Centres Strategic Steering Group to identify proposed projects for Children’s Centres development and support the establishment of local implementation planning groups has been achieved.

The Steering Group membership has been reviewed to establish a Children’s Centres Executive Group which will report directly to the Children and Young People’s Executive.  The first meeting has taken place.

Action Planning sessions have been completed by the individual Children’s Centres and progress will be monitored on a regular basis. A Leadership Programme is being undertaken by Children’s Centres Leaders and key change agents to:

• explore what they want for their communityand how this will be achieved

• facilitate community leadership

• facilitate change in the way services are delivered

This will support the development of Children’s Centres at a local level and ensure local involvement in the planning and delivery of services.

Discussions are taking place with the Council’s Legal Services to develop Partnership Agreements between the Children’s Centres and private or voluntary childcare providers to operate childcare services on behalf of Children’s Centres.  It is proposed that after taking into consideration the full operational costs for the childcare service that 95% of additional income generated would be re-invested into the Children’s Centre. Alternatively schools may wish to run the childcare themselves, through the extended schools route. Guidance will be offered by the Early Years and Childcare Services.

Maltby, Central and Rawmarsh Sure Start local programmes form part of the Children’s Centres Strategy. Rawmarsh has already received Sure Start Children’s Centre designation. Maltby and Central Sure Start will also be developed into Children’s Centres. The Sure Start Unit has advised that, whilst it is not yet in a position to provide specific details of future funding arrangements for the Sure Start local programmes, there are a number of key messages it wishes to promote

• All Sure Start local programmes, Early Excellence Centres and Maintained Nursery Schools are expected to become Children’s Centres.

• The longer term aim is that Sure Start local programmes funding will be via the Local Authority and will form part of the General Sure Start Grant. No date for this change has yet been decided.

• It is important that Programmes can demonstrate and evidence best practice and lessons learned in achieving the best outcomes for young children.

It was noted that the work of this project would impact on improvements as detailed in both the Corporate Plan and Community Strategy.

Reference was made to the work of the Training Strategy Sub-Group and how it would look at the wider remit to support communities to access the Children’s Centres and how links will be made with local employers.

Resolved:- (1)  That the report be received and the progress being made with the Children’s Centres be noted.

(2)  That, following a meeting of the Training Strategy Sub-Group,  a progress report on the methodology of supporting communities to access the Children’s Centres and links with local employers be submitted to this Sub-Group.