Oswestry Area Children's Centre

The Sure Start Oswestry Local Programme was one of the first rural programmes in the country. Sure Start provides services and home support for families living in parts of Oswestry and the surrounding villages of Gobowen, Weston Rhyn, Ifton Heath (St Martin’s) and Whittington.

Children, parents and carers in the area have been involved since the programme was first announced, and were involved in putting together the Delivery Plan from which funding was approved. The idea for the Sure Start Oswestry logo was put together by a group of parents, and the ideas brought to fruition by colleagues in Shropshire County Council.

Since funding was confirmed in July 2001, capital projects have included the building of 5 new family centres, adjacent to the primary schools at Woodside and Middleton Road in Oswestry, and in Gobowen, Ifton Heath and Weston Rhyn. We are also delivering services in partnership with Whittington Under 5’s at the Whittington Community Centre, and Footsteps Nursery – the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative created in partnership with Walford and North Shropshire College and the SRB.

Sure Start Oswestry achieved early designation as a Children's Centre in July 2003. Children's Centres were introduced by the Sure Start Unit in June 2003, and the core offer for Children's Centres are:

• early education integrated with childcare
• health
• family support
• support into employment

Since February 2006, the Oswestry Area Children's Centre now has a brand new facility, combining day care with affordable, high quality early years education. This is the 'Start' Centre, officially opened by Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet Member for Children's Services on February 2nd 2006.

The project was part-funded with a grant from the European Regional Development Fund. The Centre has been planned and built adjacent to Woodside Primary School in Oswestry, with a direct archway link to the nursery class. There is no template for the development of this kind of new initiative, and there have been plenty of important learning points along the way. However, through the combined energies and resources of Woodside School, Sure Start and the County Council, a major new facility is now available for the whole area.

If you would like more information on the Sure Start Oswestry Local Programme and Children's Centre, or wish to become a member of Sure Start Oswestry and join in the wide range of activities and services in your area, please call Jo Thomas (Children's Centre Co-ordinator) on 01691 656513.

The future Oswestry area Childrens' Centre meetings are:
18 November 2008, Job Centre Plus, 27 Oswald Road, Oswestry, SY11 1DZ at 9.30am – 11.30am
16 September 2008, Lion Quays Hotel, Moreton, Nr Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, SY11 3EN at 9.30am – 11.30am

Invitations are sent out to partners and providers, however the sessions are open to all partners.