Children’s Centres are an important part of the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda with the aim of helping/supporting children to achieve the ‘Five Outcomes’.

The aim is to have a children’s centre in every community by 2010, providing integrated services to children under 5 years old and their families.

There are three levels of Children’s Centre, depending on the levels of deprivation (and levels of existing services) in the community they serve, but all have to provide universal services – such as family outreach.

  • Phase 1, In areas of highest deprivation providing a large range of services, generally including childcare. EG Hawksworth Wood


  • Phase 2, In areas of less deprivation, providing services to the community and in some cases childcare. EG Otley or Yeadon.


  • Phase 3, Provide improved access to services for families from less disadvantaged/more affluent areas. But within these there will be pockets of disadvantage and universal issues such as Domestic Violence, Safeguarding Children etc.

Guiseley Children’s Centre is a phase 3 centre, serving a defined geographical area (reach area) containing approx 650 children under 5. We are bordered by Otley and Yeadon and the Bradford border.


Though the Centre is located at Oxford Road Infant School, it serves the whole reach area including Hawksworth, Tranmere Park, St Oswald’s primary schools, Green Meadows SILC and local secondary schools.

There is detailed Government guidance on the working of children’s centres and we will have to provide/develop/coordinate/support:-


  • Activities and Services to help ‘narrow the gap’ and help all children achieve their potential

  • Information

  • Support for all local childminders

  • Drop in sessions for children and their carers including fathers, teenage and lone parents

  • Support and help quality improvement in local Childcare and Early Education groups

  • Links with Jobcentre Plus (to help more people into employment)

  • Community Health Services, to include:-

  • Liaison with local Health Visitors and Community Midwives

  • Visit all new births

  • Increase access to health promotion programmes

  • Provide information and guidance on breast feeding, nutrition, hygiene and safety

  • Antenatal advice and support

  • Other health targets such as smoking cessation, parents with mental health issues, parents with substance abuse issues etc.

  • Children with disabilities/needs and children of disabled parents

  • Safeguarding children role


The services provided must be based on an assessment of local needs.


As with any government funded project there will be extensive performance monitoring processes and tracking of progress to the achievement of the full core offer.