Inspection of Children’s Centres

Commenting on the inspection of children’s centres, Jenny Coles, Chair of the ADCS Families, Communities and Young People Policy Committee, said:

“This time last year we surveyed our members about the children’s centre provision in their local area and the results showed that there is no one-size-fits all model, this provision has evolved and varies from place to place. In some areas due to pressures on funding the number of centres have reduced. However, provision of service is more than just buildings. Local authorities with partners have responded by re-shaping their children’s centre offer by working closely with health services, schools and the voluntary and community sector to support the delivery of prevention services to families. With further cuts to local budgets still to come, the need to think and act differently in order to prevent the risks of longer term challenges and inequalities in the future is more pressing than ever. It is clear that this is one area where practice may be running ahead of policy and therefore it makes sense to pause inspections pending the outcome of the Department for Education’s consultation.”

ENDS

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) Ltd is the professional leadership association for Directors of Children’s Services and their senior management teams in England.

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