New management arrangements for children’s centre services in three areas of the Bradford District will come into effect on 1 August.
The three areas, or ‘clusters’, that will see the change are the BD5 area of the district, East Bradford, and South Bradford. The new arrangements follow a thorough procurement process which took place in April. The management arrangements for these three clusters will be as follows:
The BD5 cluster:
The Cluster will be run by the charity Barnardo’s who will manage children’s centre services at the following locations: Woodroyd Nursery and Children’s Centre, Burnett Fields Children and Family Centre and Canterbury Nursery School and Centre for Children and Families’.
The East Bradford cluster:
The cluster will be run by Action for Children Services Ltd, who will manage the children’s centres services at the following locations: Barkerend Children's Centre, Communityworks, Fagley Children's Centre, Gateway Children's Centre, Mortimer House Children's Centre and Parkland Children's Centre.
The South Bradford cluster:
The Cluster will be run by Bradford Council who will manage children’s centre services at the following locations: Bierley Children’s Centre, Holme Wood Children’s Centre, Reevy Hill Children’s Centre, Tyersal Children’s Centre, Victoria Hall Children’s Centre, Woodside Children’s Centre and Wyke Children’s Centre.
The changes only apply to children’s centre services. They do not apply to other services delivered at buildings where children’s centre services are located.
The changes complete the district-wide reorganisation of children’s centre services. Services have been brought together into seven areas or ‘clusters’. This means, it is hoped, that the management of each cluster can be more streamlined so it can focus on delivering services families need at a local level. It has also meant that the Council is on target to make the required annual savings of £3.38m from the reorganisation.
Four other areas of the district have already implemented new arrangements. These areas are the Keighley cluster, the Airedale and Wharfedale cluster, the West Bradford cluster and the Lister Park cluster.
The new arrangements will see midwives, health visitors working closely with children’s centre staff so that pregnant women and families with young children receive a seamless service from pre-birth to school.
The early years offer will continue to be available to all families, with additional support available for families who qualify for it, such as two-year-old early education places.
The Early Years Offer includes
- The Family Links antenatal programme: an 8 week course for pregnant women and their partners to prepare for birth and parenthood
- Birth visit including breast feeding support within the first month
- A home safety visit at 3 – 4 months
- Weaning advice
- Early language development session (6 months of age)
- Developmental movement and play session
- Early language development session (18 months)
- A development review at two-and-a-half years
- Access to a free early education place in the term after their child’s third birthday
- Free Book Start packs
- Access to information through the Families Information Service
Coun Imran Khan, Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment and Skills, said: "Both Barnardo’s and Action for Children are organisations with huge experience in delivering excellent services for families and children. We are looking forward to working with them so we can build on the good practice we already have in these clusters and continue to deliver the services local families need.”
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