New Sure Start children’s centre statutory guidance   New statutory guidance for Children’s Centres was published by the Department for Education on 15 April.   This guidance replaces existing Sure Start children’s centres statutory guidance. It:   clarifies what local authorities and statutory partners must do because it is required by legislation, and what local authorities [...]

Revised Ofsted Inspection Framework for Children’s Centres   The revised inspection framework for Children’s Centres was published on the 21st March and can be found at:   http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/framework-for-childrens-centre-inspection-april-2013 http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/childrens-centre-inspection-handbook-for-inspections-april-2013 http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/inspection-of-your-childrens-centre-april-2013   The trio mutually link and the new framework mutually links with the current one (while it is still published):   http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/framework-for-childrens-centre-inspection-march-2013  

4Children Children’s Centres – Reach Out! will look at new and innovative ways that children’s centres can provide and maintain high quality services and reach out to all children and families in all communities at a time of economic tension. The seminars will bring together experts from across the children’s centre workforce to discuss and [...]

Consultation on proposed changes to the role of the local authority in early education and childcare Today the Government launches a six week consultation exercise setting out proposals for a changed role for local authorities in the delivery of funded early education for two, three and four-year-olds.  We are asking for views on proposals to [...]

Parentchannel.tv is an online service designed to support and encourage parents and carers of children aged 5-19, with a collection of videos addressing day-to-day questions and concerns spanning wellbeing, behaviour and learning.   Parentchannel.tv features a collection of short and engaging parenting support videos with links to existing services for further information, advice and support [...]

We are pleased to publish our newest addition to our examples of best practice in Children’s Centres. We think it is important to highligh some of the important work that is happening all over the country. This case study is about a particular approach taken by the Rising Stars Children’s Centre to support the development [...]