Northamptonshire Children’s

Centres Plus Libraries – a new fusion

Anne Morris & David Reed 6th March 2014

What’s in it for libraries? -Family services/resources -Family venues -Open 7 days a week -Joined up experience -Families helping families -Shared objectives

What’s in it for children’s centres? -Shared vision, keeping families at the heart of everything we do -Partnership working , sharing expertise, skills and knowledge -Providing activities which meet the needs of the whole family -Venues which are community hubs and accessible for all families -Opportunity to deliver services across extended hours and 7 days a week.

Why libraries and children’s centres?

Working In Partnership to Improve Outcomes

For Families

Our Journey So Far

•2007-2013 3 Phase 2 Library led Children’s Centres co-located with libraries •2013-2014 An additional 8 Phase 3 Library led Children’s Centres, 5 of which are co-located in libraries 10,000 children aged 0-5 within reach areas In Northamptonshire children start school in the September following their 4th birthday 95% of 3 year olds access their free entitlement to education Increasing number of 2 year olds are now accessing free entitlement to education Highest number of children accessing Children’s Centres are aged between 0-2years 98% of families list universal services as the reason they access Children’s Centres

Our vision

LibraryPlus Children’s Centres

Working with families to build brighter

futures

Improving outcomes for families

What does that mean to families?

Why do they access services at Children’s Centres and

Libraries ?

From June 2014 LibraryPlus will be delivering universal children’s centre services

from 36 libraries across the county

From August 2014 up to 10 contractors will be delivering

targeted children’s centre services from 10 Early Help Forum areas

Children’s Centres & Libraries – a new fusion

Currently: all children’s centre services are delivered from 50 centres across the county by a range of providers including 11 by LibraryPlus

NCC LibraryPlus

•Information & Advice

•CC Registration

•Volunteer Management

•Activities eg.rhymetimes

•Annual Family Survey

Future delivery model

Commissioned Contractors • Targeted services • Complementary universal services

Why are LibraryPlus delivering Universal Services?

• Heart of communities • Excellent reputation & track record • Recognised innovators • Staff & Customer Service Excellence • Council Plan: -getting it right for children & families -enabling children & young people to achieve their best

in education, ready for work, skills for life -helping children grow up healthy with improved life

chances

Additional Resources:

16 fte additional staff, including customer advisors, volunteer co-ordinators, data inputters and performance analyst

1. Advice, Information & Guidance

• Promoting targeted children’s centre services

• Assisting with ‘step up’ and ‘step down’ solutions

• Holistic approach

2. Registration for Children’s Centre services

• Warm, welcoming & stigma-free

• Speed

Welcome Events - Partnering with Registrars

- From April: 7 libraries (& via 7 Registrars)

- twice weekly welcome event based around Rhymetime Key Elements of Welcome Events - Welcoming! - Join the library and Bear Club - Register for children’s centre services - Receive BS Baby Bag gift

3. Volunteering Management

• Assisting Contractors with promotion, recruitment and retention of volunteers including peer mentors & centre advisory boards

• Providing OFSTED evidence

4. Universal Events

• 72 events every week

– 36 at weekends

– 50 weeks per year

Together, we make a big difference

Anne Morris

LibraryPlus Children’s Centre Development Lead

amorris@northamptonshire.gov.uk

01604 660526

David Reed

Principal Librarian, Children, Families & Schools

dreed@northamptonshire.gov.uk

01604 367954

Thank you

Any questions?