Schools, early years and childcare

Medway's youngest residents, particularly those living in more disadvantaged areas, are set to benefit from the introduction of many more Sure Start Children’s Centres throughout Medway.

There are now 14 children’s centres in Medway, four of which are original Phase One centres and ten of which are newly-developing Phase Two centres. By Spring 2010 there will be a total of 21 children’s centres in Medway, so that a local centre serves every community.

Each will serve a community of approximately 800 children under five years old and their families. With the exception of All Saints Children’s Centre, all children’s centres will be located on existing infant or primary school sites. The opening of a Sure Start Children’s Centre at a school will not affect the number of places a school can provide for pupils.

The centres will work with organisations such as:

• Medway PCT health visiting
  www.medwaypct.nhs.uk/Our_Services/Health_Visitors/health_visitors.html
• Medway PCT speech and language therapy services;
• Medway NHS Trust midwifery and maternity services
  www.medway.nhs.uk/Children_and_Women/Maternity/maternity.html
• Jobcentre Plus employment, training and benefit advice
  www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/JCp/Customers and
• National Childminding Association (home-based childcare for working families).

Phase One children's centres

The four Phase One centres are:

• All Saints Children Centre, Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, ME4 5JY
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=181;
• Bligh Children’s Centre, Bligh Way, Strood, ME2 2XJ
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=412;
• Woodlands Children’s Centre, Woodlands Road, Gillingham, ME7 2DU
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=438;
• Wayfield Children’s Centre, Wayfield Road, Chatham, ME5 0HH
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=215.

Phase Two children's centres

Ten more school-based children’s centres have been opened at the following sites:

• Brompton Westbrook Primary School, Kings Bastion, Brompton, Gillingham, ME7 5DQ
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=440;
• Saxon Way Primary School,Church Path, Ingram Road, Gillingham, ME7 1SJ
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=434;
• Hand In Hand Children’s Centre, Twydall Infant School, Twydall Lane, Gillingham, ME8 6JS
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=437;
• Kingfisher Primary School, Kingfisher Drive, Walderslade, ME5 7NX
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=439;
• Lordswood Infant School, Lordswood Lane, Lordswood, ME5 8NN
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=454;
• Oaklands Infant School, Weedswood Road, Walderslade, ME5 0QS
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=442;
• Burnt Oak Primary School, Cornwall Road, Gillingham, ME7 1LS;
• Gun Lane Children's Centre, All Faiths' Children's Community Primary School, Gun Lane, Strood, ME2 4UF
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=436;
• Temple Mill Primary School, Cliffe Road, Strood, ME2 3NL
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=435;
• St James’ C of E Voluntary Aided Primary School, Isle of Grain, Rochester, ME3 0BS
  www.medwayppn.org/agencies/agency_intro.asp?agency_id=441.

The idea of a children’s centre is that it will become a service hub within the community, offering a core service provision from the antenatal period until children start in reception or Year 1 at primary school. Services on offer will include midwifery appointments, health visitor drop-in sessions, benefits and job seeking advice from Jobcentre Plus and children’s and adult’s book libraries. As a minimum, each children’s centre will have a multi-use space for child and family activities, a small children’s library, a designated Community Liaison Officer and high quality education and care for three to five year-olds.

Making life better

Sure Start Children's Centres in Medway are making life better for children, parents and communities by bringing together:

• early education,
• childcare,
• health and family support.

Sure Start is part of the government’s commitment to deliver:

• the best start in life for every child;
• better opportunities for parents;
• affordable, good quality childcare;
• stronger and safer communities;
• the government’s commitment to halve child poverty by 2010.

It aims to ensure delivery of early education to all three and four year-olds, childcare and after-school activities in every area and children’s and family support in disadvantaged areas where they are most needed. It works with parents to build aspirations for employment and for their children’s education.

Sure Start will support families from pregnancy until children are 14 years old or 16 if they have disabilities.

Sure Start children’s centres are integral to the Children’s Plan and build on the success of:

• local Sure Start programmes, which have helped 400,000 children living in disadvantaged areas up to 2004;
• the early years programme, which provided all three and four year-olds with a free nursery education place by April 2004 and
• the National Childcare Strategy;

to offer all children a sure start in life.

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