Childcare Development
HEREFORDSHIRE CHILDCARE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
The Herefordshire EYDCP Childcare Services have a patch based team of Integrated Children's Services Development Workers who work with childcare settings, Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and the wider community including families, midwives, health visitors, voluntary agencies etc.
Their work with settings involves offering support and guidance on a wide range of issues such as:
- Staffing
- National Standards
- Sustainability
- Funding
- Signposting to other professionals
The Development Workers are also involved in the Extended Services initiative which is a central government policy built around schools, designed to have maximum impact on local communities.
This initiative involves working with Schools and the wider communities to ensure that the Government target will be met by 2010. This will mean that all families and children will have access to a range of extended services to meet their needs. Known as the 'Core Offer' these services may include:
- High quality childcare from 8am -6pm
- A varied menu of activities such as sport and music
- Family Learning
- Study Support
- Swift referral to specialised support
- Community access to ICT
Most families will access services from birth onward through the Herefordshire Children's Centres. Based on the idea that children achieve better outcomes if they are exposed to early years high quality care and education and their parents/carers are given the support to be confident and happy in their role, Children's centres offer a very wide range of services including family support, adult learning and child centred activities. As the children progress into the local school this range of services will be continued on or near to the school site.
The Development Co-ordinators work with schools and Children's Centres offering support and guidance to ensure that the 'Core Offer' is met.
The Integrated Children's Services Development Co-ordinators are:
| Anne-Marie Kemp | North Hereford City | 01432 383336 |
| Rebecca Coultas | Golden Valley | 01432 383231 |
| Julia Stephens | Bromyard and Ledbury | 01432 383041 |
| Elizabeth Davies | Ross-on-Wye | 01432 261547 |
| Zoe Woods | South Hereford | 01432 260858 |
| Sandra Griffiths | Leominster and Wigmore | 01432 383141 |
| Carolyn Gately | Kington/Weobley | 01432 383336 |
| Pam Stephenson | Play Development Co-ordinator | 01432 383041 |
| Alex Fitzpatrick | Senior Integrated Development Co-ordinator | 01432 383336 |