Families in Eltham celebrated their new addition on Thursday 6 March, at the formal opening of the Alderwood Primary School Children’s Centre.
They were joined by:
- Beverley Hughes MP - Minister for Children, Young People and Families
- Clive Efford - MP for Eltham and Councillor
- Jackie Smith - Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.
The opening event gave staff the opportunity to show the range of services available to help parents, parents-to-be and carers.
The borough's Children's Centres aim to give children a good start in life and help the development of families.
What's available?
The Centre, in Rainham Close, is one of 23 facilities the Council has planned for the borough.
It is open from Monday to Friday for 48 weeks a year and offers a range of family support and learning opportunities including:
- a 21-place nursery centre
- weekly Toy Library session
- crèche facilities for parents attending sessions
- parent/carer and childminder network stay and play sessions
- Homestart family group, health visitor clinics, counselling, midwife drop-in
- Greenwich Local Labour and Business and Children’s Information Service
- drop in area for parents and carers, with internet facilities and other services
- speech and language therapy service
- regular family forum meetings for those using the centre to discuss the activities and development of services offered.
The centre continues to develop programmes for the wider community by offering activities that reach-out to local residents, such as training, recreational activities, exercise classes and music projects.
Best start in life
Councillor Jackie Smith, Greenwich Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said:
"Alderwood Children’s Centre is a great new addition to our network of centres, providing first-class childcare to local families and really helping parents to balance their working lives with their family by offering affordable, high-quality childcare services.
"This opening marks a great achievement for our borough, as we continue our commitment of providing children and young people the best possible start in life, while also giving families and local people a meeting place, helping to build community spirit and foster a sense of pride in our communities."
Supporting young children
Beverley Hughes MP, Minister for Children, Young People and Families, added:
"Greenwich has done very well and offers a very good model for the rest of the country. I think what they’ve achieved here is very impressive and this particular centre is doing a great job. If we can give more support to young children and their parents we can make a big difference to the way children start school and the benefits carry on to their primary and secondary education."
Look for children's services using our Children's Services Directory.
12 March 2008