ABSTRACT
If you visit a children’s centre you will see health professionals working alongside other agencies, childminders, teachers, nursery workers, staff from adult education and from the voluntary sector and many, many more, and always working in close partnership with parents. In most centres you will see a baby clinic – a time to meet with other parents, to see the health visitor and the midwife. A wonderful informal space in which to have time for yourself, but also ask questions and discuss issues as they arise. Maybe the toy-library co-ordinator is there to offer a range of toys to borrow, and there is a chance to find out about the next baby-massage session, or book onto a course. The health visitor will be on hand to answer questions about nutrition and breast-feeding. What children’s centres can provide is that notion of a one-stop shop for families, for families with young children with a wide range of needs. Sure Start children’s centres at their best enable practitioners to work together to support the needs of young children. They allow parents to feel confident to work with professionals, not to feel done to. Health must be central to promoting better life chances for all of our children and it must be central to the whole children’s centre agenda. Many centres are led by a health professional and there is considerable evidence to suggest that such centres are extremely successful in meeting the needs of families.
