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20/04/04 - Good start for Sure Start

Cash help that will pay for one member of the new Sure Start team for the Carlisle area was promised today by Carlisle Local Committee of Cumbria County Council. The committee agreed to award £27,575, the equivalent of one of the 5.5 posts in the team.

 

Councillor John Collier, chair of the Carlisle Local Committee, said:

 

"Supporting the work of the Sure Start team and its targets in the next two years means supporting more than one key aim of the county council.

"Their work will improve the educational opportunities for younger children in the various nurseries and pre-schools and other groups.

"It will also improve educational and employment opportunities for parents who want to work or study in Carlisle and who need childcare facilities."

 

Cumbria's early years and childcare service was restructured last year, with Voluntary sector workers being replaced by area teams employed by Cumbria County Council. The service was rebranded and is now known as Cumbria Sure Start. Restructuring and rebranding of the area service, provided by Cumbria Sure Start - Carlisle and Eden Development and Sustainability Team, began in September and will be complete by May.  The team supports the creation of new childcare places, sustains existing places and ensures that childcare provision is as good as possible.

In Carlisle there are more than 130 childcare settings -- including full day-care nurseries, pre-schools, after-school clubs, parent and toddler groups -- and 80 childminders.

The team aims to visit all settings at least twice a year and offer help with funding, Ofsted registration, training, management, quality assurance, employment and other matters.

 

Sure Start targets in the area in the years 2004-2006 are to create three children's centres in Carlisle; ensure that day nurseries increase the provision of day care in disadvantaged areas; create more than 300 new childcare places and more than 50 new breakfast club and after school places; create childcare places for students on Carlisle campuses; increase the number of childminders and home childcarers

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