Children's Centres
Children’s Centres also feature as part of the broad extended service agenda. These are a new provision, and are places where children under 5 years old and their families can receive integrated services and information, and where they can access help from multi-disciplinary teams of professionals. Centres will provide a range of services depending on local need and parental choice.
The Borough Council has been allocated funding for six centres – each centre should reach a minimum of 800 children under five and their families. Services offered will not be the same everywhere, because needs and communities vary greatly, but the greatest resource for children’s centres will go to those children most in need.
Children’s Centres with a central building planned will be:
- The Rowans based on the site of Fox Hill Primary School serving the communities of Easthampstead, Wildridings, Harmans Water, Crown Wood, Forest Park, and Martins Heron. Opened September 2007
- The Oaks based on the site of Great Hollands School serving the communities of Great Hollands, Birch Hill and Hanworth - opened March 2008.
- The Family Tree runs services from local venues in the town centre, Priestwood and Bullbrook areas, as well as supporting activities at the Family Tree Nursery in the town centre.
The services for the other centres will be based in a range of community buildings such as schools, pre-schools, community halls etc. and are:
- The Alders serving the communities of College Town, Owlsmoor and Central Sandhurst
- The Chestnuts serving the communities of Crowthorne and Little Sandhurst
- The Maples serving the communities of Binfield, Warfield, North Ascot, Winkfield and Cranbourne.
Services are being developed in all areas and are running even if the Centres are not yet open.
Services offered might include:
- Flexible and affordable integrated childcare and education
- Antenatal and post natal advice and support for parents/carers
- Family support and parental outreach
- Child Health Promotion Programme
- Information and guidance on breast feeding, hygiene, nutrition and safety
- Promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being
- Speech and language and other specialist support
- Support for healthy lifestyles
- Help in stopping smoking
- Links with Jobcentre Plus
- Information and advice on childcare and activities for young people
- Links with local registered childminders
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