Speaking at the eighth annual Sure Start conference in London, Sally Burlington, deputy director of children's centres and extended schools at the Department for Education, sought to reassure delegates that the Government's aim to increase health visitor numbers would not impact on children's centre outreach work.
She said, 'When ministers visit children's centres they have observed the good work that outreach workers do. I believe this work is a key part of reaching the neediest and I anticipate that they do have a role going forward.'
Dianne Walls, head teacher of Oliver Thomas Nursery School and Children's Centre in Newham, London, expressed concern that the Government's desire to have health visitors placed in all children's centres should not stop outreach work. 'The Government needs to know the value of the outreach programme. It is one of the most important jobs that we do as a children's centre,' she said.
Ms Burlington described the Government's commitment to provide 4,200 extra Sure Start health visitors as a 'big and ambitious goal'. While she was unable to shed any light on the upcoming spending review, she said that it was clear that the financial climate was getting tough and stressed that all children's centre providers should think of value for money and how to measure outcomes.