Governance.
Our network of centres will aim to support a programme of service & activities not just on our doorstep here in Bishop’s Stortford, but also out into the surrounding villages. It is important that we actually take this out to children and families who live in these more rural areas, as they may find access into the town difficult.
We have our own vehicle to assist with this task.
As our mission statement outlines: we aim to ensure that all families get the support they need to give their under 5’s the best start in life.
As Windhill Primary School & Nursery is the lead agency for this network of phase 2 & 3 centres, it provides the ‘Governance’ structure that supports and oversees the strategy, direction and accountability.
The main level of this structure that is concerned with decision making for the centres is the middle layer, i.e. the Children’s Centre Committee, which is comprised of the following:
- Children’s Centre Manager
- Head Teacher Of Windhill /Summercroft /other TBA
- School Business Manager
- Foundation stage Lead from Windhill School
- Representatives from Windhill School Governing body (one of whom is this committee chairperson) plus additional reps from host schools
- Locality service manager PCT
- Job Centre Plus (lone parent advisor)
- District Partnership Team rep.
Furthermore we will establish a Partnership Board in all three area’s (one is already running successfully from Windhill), which are populated by local professionals who have direct contact with families and their under 5’s e.g. health visitors, EY setting practitioners, in addition to a wider range of stakeholders as is relevant.
It is also anticipated over the coming months that the beginnings of a parent’s forum will start to develop. This will be your chance to really have an input into how & what the centre’s do. If you feel able to commit some of your time to this, please do let us know.
