Sure Start Children’s Centres are at the heart of the Government’s strategy to deliver better outcomes for children and families. It aims to achieve these outcomes by the provision of integrated education, care, family support, health services and support with employment to families with children aged less than 5 years.
Each Children’s Centre must meet a Core Offer which includes:
- Early education integrated with day care
- Family support and parental outreach
- Child and family health services
- Links with schools and Children’s Information Service
- Links with Job Centre Plus
The range of support provided by individual Children’s Centres varies according to local need. Douglas Valley Children’s Centre offers a wide range of services including:
- An Ofsted registered maintained nursery school
- Full Day care for 0 – 3 year olds
- Wrap Around care and Holiday care for 3 – 11 year olds
- Parenting courses
- Parent and Toddler Group
- Childminder Support Group
- Family Learning
- Relate Counselling
- Dads’ Sessions
- Fit and Food Sessions
- Drop-in Support Sessions
- Parentcraft and related Midwife sessions
- Parents Information Point housing a warm phone and computer with direct links to a range of sites (including Job Centre Plus and the Children’s Information Service).
Douglas Valley Conference and Development Centre provides a venue for training and conferences in its well equipped meeting rooms.
Douglas Valley Children’s Centre is open between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. every week day for 51 weeks of the year (closed on public holidays). We open evenings and weekends by arrangement.
