The Beacon Children’s Centre (formerly Sure Start Bradley & Whitefield) is funded by the government as part of their commitment to have a Children’s Centre in every community by 2010. The Beacon achieved full designation as a Children’s Centre in May 2005, only the 3rd in Lancashire at that time.
Children’s Centres are tasked with delivering a range of services to meet the outcomes of Every Child Matters, these are:
· Be Healthy
· Stay Safe
· Enjoy & Achieve
· Make a Positive Contribution
· Achieve Economic Well-Being
Working in partnership with colleagues from Health, Education, Children’s Social Care, Job Centre Plus, Neighbourhood Nurseries, Childminders, Playbus, Nelson & Colne College, Pendle Borough Council and others we are delivering a range of services known broadly as ‘The Core Offer’ to assist those caring for children from pre birth to school entry to gain access to services, activities and information to support them and the children in their care.
More information about The Core Offer can be found on the government’s ‘Department of Children, Schools and Families’ website.
From our base in Whitefield we deliver outreach services at Bradley Primary School, Whitefield Nursery Unit, Hodge House Community Centre, Yarnspinners Health Centre and into family homes. Our partnerships with the neighbourhood nurseries at Bradley Early Years Centre and First Class Child Care at The Beacon, coupled with our accredited network of Childminders ensures that those parents and carers who are working or training have access to high quality, affordable childcare. The early learning element of this childcare is supported by our qualified early years teacher.
