With the changing focus of the Sure Starts and children’s centres – Torbay Early Years has developed a strategy that will incorporate and build on the existing good practise of the previous Sure Start Local Programmes.

Torbay currently has four children’s centres, two in Torquay, one in Paignton and one in Brixham, with our remit to provide a further two in 2006 and three more by 2008.

We have looked at how we can realistically and strategically join up outcomes, aims and resources with other agencies, such as Health, Extended Schools and our local Children Services using the Children and Young Peoples Plan to meet the Every Child Matters outcomes.

There will be many delivery sites for children’s centres throughout Torbay but are using our existing Sure Start programmes as service delivery agents, using dedicated Sure Start staff and working with the private, voluntary and independent across the Bay to provide services.

Each of these sites, are based in the 30% most disadvantaged wards and have been chosen for their strategic importance within the communities they represent and will provide a sound base for the services to be offered.

By taking the individual strategic plans of each area of children’s services we have been able to map common aims, objectives and targets against the Every Child Matters outcomes, enabling a holistic and joined up approach to the Torbay Children and Young People’s Plan.

Future scoping will outline what is working well and, where necessary, what interventions need to be put in place to improve it. An honest, open and reflective approach to service provision will ensure that Torbay contract with appropriate service providers to deliver the agenda.

Crucial to any work carried out by the children’s centres and partner agencies is the monitoring and evaluation which will be carried out both internally and independently to ensure that we are providing the best quality service provision for children and their families across Torbay.

With the in-depth groundwork completed by March 2007 we will implement the strategic children centre delivery plan across Torbay in April 2007. This plan will be piloted throughout 2007-8. With constant reviewing, monitoring and evaluating we will  ensure that the services being offered are of a consistently high standard and are continuing to meet and exceed the needs of the people of Torbay.

The benefits to the community:

• Excellent quality early learning combined with full daycare provision for children aged 0-5 (minimum 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year).
• Quality teacher input to lead the development of learning within the centre.
• Child and family health services, including ante-natal services, smoking cessation and breast feeding.
• Family support services, both on site at the children’s centre bases and on an outreach basis.
• A base for childminder network and links to childminder services.
• Effective links with Jobcentre Plus to support parents/carers who wish to consider training or employment.
• Access to wide range of activities for parents and children outside the centres.
• Drop-in sessions and other activities for children and carers in the centres.
• Appropriate support and outreach services to parents/carers and children where a need has been identified.
• Information and advice to parents/carers on a range of subjects, including: local childcare, looking after babies and young children, local early years provision, education services for 3 & 4 year olds and parenting advice.
• Support for children and parents/carers of children with special needs.
• Teenage pregnancy and parenting support.
• ‘one-stop-shop’ – links to specialist services.

These services are available to everyone in Torbay and most are completely free!

Quick Facts

• Each week, 460+ parents access Stay & Plays in Brixham and Paignton… they started with 9 in 2002.
• Between 2005 - 2006, 612 carers and 611 children in Torquay accessed services a total of 10376 times.
• Paignton has 2728 children registered with them. This is 80% of the total estimated number in the area.