About Children's Centres

Introduction

Hertsmere Leisure Children’s Centres are funded by Surestart and managed by Hertsmere Leisure. For more information about Hertsmere Leisure please see www.hertsmereleisure.co.uk

What are Children’s Centres?

Children’s Centres offer the best start in life for every child, providing a place where under 5’s can get involved in a range of both play and early learning activities. Parents, grandparents and carers can benefit from better opportunities with access to child care, family support, health services, outreach services, training and employment advice.

What is the aim of a Children’s Centre?

Children’s Centres provide services for under 5’s and their families, providing:

• The best start in life for every child
• Better opportunities for parents
• Affordable, good quality childcare
• Stronger and safer communities

There will be a further 7 Children's Centres:

Centre	Ward
South Mimms & Potters Bar West	Potters Bar Furzefield Ward
Shenley	Shenley Ward
Aldenham & Radlett	Aldenham West Ward, Aldenham East Ward
Bushey	Bushey St James Ward, Bushey North Ward
Bushey Heath	Bushey Heath Ward, Bushey Park Ward
Abbots Langley	Abbots Langley Ward
Park Street & St Stephens (covering Bricket Wood & Chiswell Green)	Park Street Ward, St Steven Ward

What services are provided?

Children’s Centres will be expected to provide the following services to all children under 5 and their families:

• Access to early education with full day care
• Family support
• Health services
• A base for childminders
• Access to support and advice on training and employment

What can family support offer me?

The Children’s Centres will be there to provide a range of support from information leaflets on parenting issues, drop in sessions for parents to chat and share ideas as well as parenting groups.

Tell me more about the health services that are available to my family

A range of health professions, including baby clinics, health visitors, speech therapists and community dieticians are involved with the services offered at our Children’s Centres.   Antenatal sessions are being introduced at The BECC and we hope to be able to offer postnatal sessions in the future.

What sort of information and advice will be available to me?

Advice on child care, parenting, healthy lifestyles as well as training and employment will be available.

Who is responsible for delivering the Children’s Centre programme?

Hertfordshire County Council has been given the responsibility for ensuring the development of Children’s Centres across Hertfordshire. Hertsmere Leisure have been appointed to manage the development and delivery of Children’s Centre services in 10 areas

How will Children’s Centres develop?

Each Children’s Centre will develop depending on the needs of their communities. The Children’s Centres will be working very closely with parents and carers and all those who currently provide services for families.

Where can I find more information?

Regular updates on the progress of the Children’s Centres will be in the local press and on our website.

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