What are Children’s Centres?

Sure Start Children’s Centres are at the heart of the Government’s commitment to deliver better outcomes for children and families. Every area in Devon with have access to a Children’s Centre by 2010.

Children’s Centres are primarily aimed at parents and carers with children under five years old but will work closely with other initiatives such as Extended Schools so that families are able to access childcare and other services as children move into school.

What do Children’s Centres Offer?

Children’s Centres will provide a range of services depending on the local need and parental choice. Services will not be the same everywhere as needs and communities vary greatly. They aim to offer information, advice and support to parents and carers, as well as integrated childcare and early learning, health services, family support, parental outreach and employment advice.

Children's Centre Core Offer (26KB - pdf help)

Devon’s Children’s Centre Development

Devon's Children’s Centres are being developed in three phases:

• In Phase 1 (2004-2006), six Children’s Centres were developed, four of which were previously Sure Start local programmes.  The centres developed in this phase cover the 20% most deprived wards according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).  
• In Phase 2 (2006-2008) a further 25 Children’s Centres have been developed across Devon.  These cover the 30% most deprived wards according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation.
• Phase 3 (2008-2010) The target for phase 3 is an additional 12 centres to bring the Devon total to 43 Children's Centres by 2010.

Latest News

• Results of Devon’s Children's Centre 2007/08 Annual Conversations (14KB - pdf help)
• Children’s Centre Survey Results (11KB - pdf help)
• New Devon Children's Trust Research and Evaluation webpage

Find out more

• Contact your nearest Children Centre
• Parent Information Leaflet (768KB - pdf help)
• Children's Services Directory
• Reach of Children (14KB - pdf help) for each Centre

For more information about Children’s Centres you can contact your District Co-ordinator:

East Devon     01392 385581                                North Devon     01271 388901   

Mid Devon      07969 684663                                West Devon     01392 386951

Teignbridge    01392 384926                                Torridge      01271 388901

Exeter     01392 385534 or   01392 385380            South Hams    01392 386072 or   01803 869372

Email District Co-ordinators

Useful Links   

• Sure Start
• Every Child Matters