Management and Governance of Children's Centres

'Research to Inform the Management and Governance of Children's Centres' was commissioned by the DfES Sure Start Extended Schools and Families Group to inform the management and governance of children's centres in England.

It aimed to provide information on the different governance and management structures and arrangements already in place, and to identify those approaches and features that are seemingly successful at this stage.

Children’s centres bring together locally available services and integrate management and staffing structures, to provide the following core services targeted at the needs of children under 5 years of age located in deprived areas:

• early learning integrated with childcare
• family support and outreach to parents
• child and family health services
• advice and information for parents on children’s services and opportunities to work and train.

The research involved in-depth case study visits to 25 children’s centres. Case studies in this sample were drawn from each region in England and a representative spread of urban/rural locations was also sought.

The report identified:

• some emerging models of governance and management
• issues (at both local and strategic levels)
• key principles underlying successful governance and management.

The research also looked at parental involvement and the role of partner agencies (including health and the private and voluntary sectors).