Children's centres are a big idea whose time has arrived. They will bring together a range of services for children and families, from early education and childcare to health and family support. By making it easier for parents to access services, they will help more families benefit in the critical early years of their children's lives.
The Government has pledged to set up a children's centre in the 20 per cent most disadvantaged areas of England, so that 650,000 children will gain from what they offer by 2006. Beyond these areas, many other agencies are planning to set up centres.
The integration of services is not a new concept, but we know it works. The challenge is to make integration exciting so key players get involved, and to make it effective so children and families really benefit. Integration doesn't necessarily cost a lot - it's about building on the best of services already there, from local Sure Start programmes to neighbourhood nurseries. Of course, it will require new resources where services don't exist.
Models for children's centres are available - many early excellence centres already show how full-time daycare can be provided alongside drop-in services for parents and toddlers and specialist support for families, and how staff from different professional backgrounds can be brought together.
But will the Government extend investment in children's centres and create a universal publicly funded service? This is critical if children from families in poverty living outside disadvantaged areas are to benefit.
It's crucial that the first children's centres demonstrate their value to convince the Government of the case for further investment in the 2004 spending review - investment that goes beyond the disadvantaged areas and that provides continuing support to the flagship children's centres.
Universal children's centres are key to the Government delivering on its ambitious drive to end child poverty and create a better, fairer Britain.
We now have an unprecedented opportunity to start to fulfil that ambition.
