The director provides clarification on the county council's plans for children's centres in 4 points: 1. They have not proposed closing any centres, but rather improving services for families. 2. "De-designating" centres does not mean closure, but some centres may host activities differently to complement new family support staff. 3. The goal is to do more to help families with modern challenges, not less, through a new early help service incorporating children's centres. 4. They are consulting staff on proposals and centre plans, and the director is available to address questions or concerns.

1. 4 February, 2014
Dear Colleague,
Future of Children’s Centres
I am very conscious of the position you have been in and continue to live with,
hearing so many different stories about what the County Council plans for
Children’s Centres in the future. Debate in the House of Commons on
Monday night (3rd February) did not help clear this up; so, I wanted to write to
you and make some very clear statements.
1.
We have not proposed the closure of any Children’s Centre.
All of our proposals have been about how we can increase and
improve the help we give to children and families. Over time, those
needs have changed and so must our ways of working. What we want
to do is make it a more effective offer overall.
2.
De-designation is not closure.
Of the designated Children’s Centres, some do not need to continue as
such and be subject to Ofsted inspection in the same way. We expect
that all the current locations will continue to host activities for children;
we will need to timetable those differently so that they complement the
work of the 30+ new staff we will appoint to work with families who
cannot easily get to any of our current sites. These are additional staff
to those family support workers who are to TUPE across to Somerset
County Council at the beginning of March.
3.
We want to do more work with families – not less.
The complications of modern life are an increasing challenge for our
families. We need to do more to help them – not less. But it is not just
more of the same – nor is it the same with some extra bits added on.
We need to be clear that we have thought through what makes the
difference – and talked to you about it. We are moving forward with an
Early help Service in which Children’s Centre Services will be a key
part of this offer.
4.
We are consulting with you.
We have already begun our consultation with staff about the proposals
for the future structure, job descriptions and ring fencing arrangements.
This will continue and during this process we are responding to staff
views. We have already reflected on the structure and amended it

2. accordingly. I would like to thank you for your comments, please be
assured we are listening to you.
Very soon now – and before the end of this month – we will be well into
discussions with you about your Centre and how best to take it forward.
We will check ‘reach’, user numbers and all other data you feel is
important (and so do we) and work out how we can make the bigger
difference to all those families that you and I want to see well
supported and doing well for themselves.
So; why am I writing to you now? Well, this is the first time I have been asked
to get involved with this and it would be strange if I didn’t make contact and
tell you where I stand. I also want you to know that I am in my 40th year of
working with children and families; that doesn’t mean I know everything, but it
does mean I have a long-standing commitment to helping them. Working with
you to do that is very important to me.
Because I want you to know that you can contact me anytime on this matter, I
have set up a special email address (3C@somerset.gov.uk) that I will make it
a priority to check every morning and respond. I will also post answers to
Frequently Asked Questions on the Change for Children Centres website
(http://change.somerset.gov.uk/childrenscentres) so you can check them
there as well.
Please remember that this is a clear statement on behalf of the County
Council; whatever else you might be told will not represent that view unless it
comes from me or one of my colleagues here.
I look forward to meeting many of you in the future.
Yours sincerely,
Peter Lewis
(Interim) Director of Children’s Services and Lead Commissioner for children