Children's Centres
WHAT DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY NEED FROM YOUR CHILDREN’S
CENTRE?
In order to ensure the best and most effective
services are delivered through Children’s Centres over the coming
years, Bedford Borough Council is currently seeking views on the
future of the services through a consultation that will run until
Friday 27 July 2012.
The key issues highlighted in the consultation
include:
- That Children’s Centres will remain universal and open to all
children and families
- No Children’s Centres will close
- Information outlining why some changes are necessary to
Children’s Centres at this time
- The ways in which Children’s Centres could be configured in
order to protect frontline services
Cllr David Sawyer, Portfolio Holder for
Education at Bedford Borough Council, said: “Children’s Centres in
other areas of the country have either closed or have been
threatened with closure, but we are fully committed to protecting
our centres. The aim of the consultation is to help shape the best
possible use of services. We know that Children’s Centres are a
lifeline to so many. Going direct to the people who use the
centres, to gain their views and opinions, will allow us to acquire
a greater understanding on how we should prioritise services going
forward.”
Following the consultation, the Council will
look at the information gathered from parents, partners and other
sources, and a summary of our findings will be made available to
those who participated in the process. The Council will then make
any necessary changes to the proposed offer of services and decide
upon how Children’s Centres should be configured from 1 April
2013.
To take part in the consultation, submit your
views via www.bedford.gov.uk/ccfuture
Or, complete a paper response form, or send
your comments, to: CONSULTING BEDFORD, FREEPOST ANG5840, BEDFORD,
MK40 1ZD. Forms will be available at Borough Hall reception, Town
Hall reception and at all Borough libraries.
Alternatively, email your comments to:
consultingbedford@bedford.gov.uk
or contact the Family Information Service on
0800 023 2057.