With the development of Every Child Matters: Change for Children, the Department for Children, Schools and Families asked twelve regional local authorities to develop the first phase of children’s centres by 2006. By September 2006, 114 children’s centres were operating throughout the North East. The centres, provide a range of education, care, health and family support services for children under five and their families.
We have been working with colleagues in Together for Children to support the creation of a further 64 children’s centres by March 2008. Our goal is to give every community access to a children’s centre by 2010.
To help support the roll-out of extended services (through the centres and schools) for children and young people, we are working with the Training and Development Agency (TDA), 4Children and ContinYou. We are supporting and challenging local authorities in the region to meet the requirements of the Ten Year Childcare Strategy and the Childcare Act 2006.
