Best practice in children’s centres

The children’s services think-tank and not for profit organisation Capacity has recently published two reports outlining what it perceives as best practice within surestart children’s centres. This comes just as the government plans to introduce a system of payment by results in children’s centres. Nine regions are currently trialling the system under which the financial support they receive will be linked to their performance in relation to: EYFS profile assessments, breastfeeding prevalence, sustained contact with families in greatest need and completion of evidence-based parenting programmes.

The reports, which can be downloaded from the capacity website, praise H.O.P.E Family Centre in Herefordshire
Maden Children and Community Centre in Rossendale for going a long distance helping disadvantaged families to have real change in their lives.

Working in combination with the back-to-work programme Take Three Days, Capacity has also launched a new programme called Change for Families. The programme will focus on ensuring that families with diverse problems receive proper support to access skills and move out of poverty. More specifically it will offer a new way of bringing together children’s centres, schools, housing partnerships, employment advisers and families to take decisive action to address child poverty and break down barriers that prevent people from finding employment. It will also provide training for practitioners on engaging families and understanding disadvantage.

Please visit the capacity website for more information on this very interesting initiative.