The new Children's Centre, situated in the grounds of Battle and Langton Primary School in Market Road, provides a one-stop shop for children under five and their families, where they can get support, advice and information on a range of family issues.
The Battle Children's Centre will provide a whole range of services and courses to support parents, carers and their young families. These include breast feeding peer support groups, and twins and multiple birth groups. Health services, such as baby clinics, ante-natal groups and baby massaging sessions will run in partnership with local health visitor and midwifery teams. Parenting skills courses and back-to-work training will be available through partnerships with local education organisations.
Councillor Keith Glazier officially opened the County Council's newest Children's Centre at a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday 26 February. Many families in the area were invited to attend the opening. Visiting parents and carers met with staff to find out more about what is available through the new centre. The children had fun with various arts and crafts activities – including the creation of a special large picture to commemorate the official opening.
Councillor Glazier said: “I am delighted to be at Battle today to celebrate the opening of this new Children's Centre for the area. The Children's Centre programme as a whole is a key priority for the Council. The services provided by the centres and the support they provide to young families all help to ensure that young children get the best possible start in life.”
Fay Mitchell, Area Co-ordinator for Rother Children's Centres, said: “This centre will provide a wide range of services and support for local families, especially those with children under five. We are really pleased to be welcoming Tina Bishop, Health Visitor, and Nicki Huff, Community Nursery Nurse, who will be based in the centre.
“The opening event gives us the opportunity to ask local families for their views on what services they would like to see their Children's Centre provide. We will be working closely with Battle and Langton Primary school and other partners from the statutory, voluntary and private sectors.”
Provided at a cost of over £400,000, the new centre will be managed by East Sussex County Council.
The new Battle Children's Centre is one of 22 Children's Centres in place across the county and the County Council's plans are on target to provide a further six by Spring 2008.
For more information about Battle Children's Centre, readers can contact Natalie Hollands on 01797 227536.
Further information
About Children's Centres
The new Battle Children's Centre is part of the County Council's expansion plans, which will mean that an additional 13,000 children will have access to health services, family support, early education services and childcare at one of the new Children's Centres by 2010. There are now 22 Children's Centres in East Sussex. Over £5m is being spent on improvements – ranging from brand new buildings to smaller adaptations or refurbishments to deliver a further 6 centres by Spring 2008.
Each centre will provide `core' services of childcare and early learning for young children, health services, family support, a base for childminders and help into employment for parents. Other services may include parenting courses, speech therapy, home visiting, parent and toddler groups and midwifery services – depending on the needs of the area.
The new locations were chosen following widespread consultation with schools, parents and carers. Discussions have also involved health services, voluntary and private organisations who will work with the centres to provide services.
Information about Children's Centres in East Sussex is available in local libraries, from the centres themselves and on our Children's Centres pages.
Communities that East Sussex County Council has so far provided Children's Centre services to include:
- Rural Rother (Rye)
- East Hastings (Ore Valley)
- Bexhill
- Hailsham
- Shinewater in Eastbourne
- Willingdon Trees in Eastbourne
- Newhaven
- Peacehaven
- Hastings & St Leonards
- Polegate
- St Leonards.
By 2010 every community in East Sussex will have access to Children's Centre Services. If you would like to know more about the development of Children's Centres please contact the Early Years, Childcare and Extended Schools Service at East Sussex County Council (phone: 01323 747445).
Reference:
1842
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