Sure Start Children's Centres aim to make life better for children, parents and communities by bringing together early education, childcare, health and family support.
What is a Sure Start Children's Centre?
Children's centres are a new type of community base, offering a wide range of services for children under five, their parents, carers and families.
The aim of the centres is to provide good quality, integrated services that have broad and lasting impact on children, their parents and the wider community.
Children's centres provide:
the best start in life for every child
better opportunities for parents
access to affordable, good quality childcare combined with early education
stronger and safer communities
access to a range of child and family services
How will the centres help me?
Everything is in one place - making it much easier for you to get the best access to health, education and childcare.
Dedicated staff, with lots of experience in working with young children and their families, will be on hand to answer your questions and help you get the right advice and support.
There will be access to high quality, affordable childcare for parents and carers who want to take up adult training opportunities which will be signposted at the centre.
What services are available?
Children's centres offer the sorts of things that people with young children need. These can include:
health services - links to health visitors, midwives and general health advice
access to childcare, early education and creche provision
links to out-of-school clubs and playschemes
a base for childminders
outreach services and support for parents
training opportunities for adults
Families using the centres are also encouraged to suggest how these services should be designed and delivered to make sure they meet the needs of local people.
How many children's centres are there in Dudley?
There are 20 centres up and running in Dudley, giving every child the opportunity to receive the best start in life.
How can I find out more?
Visit the
children's centres website for more information about each centre, or contact the Family Information Service (FIS) on 01384 814398/9 for details of your nearest centre.
