About Children's Centres

We are, together with our partners, developing 42 Children’s Centres across the county. This page of content is primarily aimed at professionals working with children and their families. If you are a parent, carer or other family member looking for help and support, please visit our Children's Centres section on the website.

Children's Centres provide services to meet the needs of children aged from birth until five years, and their families.

The services are based on a core offer and include:

integrated early learning and care
family support
health services
outreach services
training and employment advice.

Children's Centres will be models of partnership working between different agencies.

The provision of good quality integrated services will have broad and lasting impact on children, their parents and the wider community. Children's Centres will contribute towards the Government's commitment to:

the best start in life for every child
better opportunities for parents
affordable, good quality childcare
stronger and safer communities.

The Children's Centre programme is based on the concept that providing integrated education, care, family support and health services are key factors in determining good outcomes for children and their parents.

The concept itself is not a new one - Children's Centres are about building on existing good practice, rather than starting afresh.

Many families with young children already benefit from good quality integrated services, eg Sure Start Local Programmes. Children's Centres enhance these services and extend the benefits to more families.

Use the link in the more information section for a leaflet that gives information about where Children's Centres are to be developed.

Also available in the more information section is the Derbyshire Children's Centre strategy.

About Children's Centres

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