Council looks to parents to help set children’s services priorities

PARENTS are being asked their views in a review of services for pre-school children which has been launched by Sheffield Council.

The authority is launching a review of early years services for children aged under five – to try and ensure that youngsters get the “best possible start in life.”

Organisations in Sheffield that already work with young children – such as Sure Start – as well as parents and families, are also being asked for their views on the “benefits and effectiveness” of services.

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The council said that the review will “look at what is done well and what can be built upon”, as well as looking at other councils around the country to see how children’s services in Sheffield could be improved.

Councillor Jackie Drayton, Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for children and families, said the review was “vital”, if the authority was to “effectively support children in their future choices.”

She said: “I’m very passionate about giving our children the best possible start in life and how the support they receive from an early age shapes their future.

“Being happy, healthy and feeling supported is vital in these first years and we accept in Sheffield that we have to do more as we are not at the same level as the best-performing authorities in other parts of the country.

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“We’re asking parents, carers and families who use services to let us know their views so they can help shape any changes we make in the future.

“Their views are so important to us and I’d urge as many people as possible to let us know what they think.

“We’re also asking those agencies and organisations who already work with us for their views too to help us outline our approach to doing what’s right for our younger citizens.

“We all want to make a difference.”

The starting point for the review, the authority said, will be to look at the city’s existing strategy for children under five, which is entitled “The Best Start for Sheffield’s Children and Families”, to see if it is achieving its aims.

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Aims of the review, the council said, include ensuring children’s services are “well-tailored to needs”, “joined-up”, “of the highest quality”, “good value” and “achieve the very best results for children and families.”

The consultation period ends on Friday July 22. Those who wish to share their opinions before then should contact their nearest children’s centre, details of which can be found on the Sheffield Council website.

A council spokesman said: “Views will be collated over the summer and a report pulling together the feedback will be published in September.

“This report will contain some broad recommendations which will then form the base for making changes to service delivery over 2012.”

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Sheffield Council’s new ruling Labour administration has pledged that one of its priorities will be to reverse budget cuts for Sure Start children’s centres.

Upon coming into power in May, council leader Julie Dore said that the party would be reversing £2.5m of savings previously outlined by the Lib Dem administration, including the restoration of £200,000 of funding for Sure Start.

In February this year, before Labour took control of the council, angry parents staged a ‘picnic protest’ outside Sheffield Town Hall after a march to protest against the Lib Dems’ proposed cuts to the city’s Sure Start centres.

At present, 30 Sure Start centres across Sheffield provide services including childcare and health care to children under five.

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Under the Lib Dems, cutbacks would have seen the centres’ budgets cut by 15 per cent, losing £2m of their annual funding.

It is thought those cuts could have forced Sure Start centres to charge more or else reduce their opening hours.

Sheffield Council is currently faced with having to find £220m in budget cuts before 2015.