Maria Miller on fact-finding mission (From Basingstoke Gazette)

MP visited children's centre

11:38am Wednesday 17th October 2012 in News By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

MP MARIA Miller has been on a fact-finding visit to see and hear how a children’s centre in Basingstoke is running now it is under new management.

The control of Hampshire’s Sure Start children’s centres was taken over by Action for Children in April, which is now responsible for 13 of the 15 clusters, including Basingstoke and Deane.

The move was designed to increase the number of frontline workers. Basingstoke MP Mrs Miller visited Honeycomb Children’s Centre, in Chiltern Way, Buckskin, to find out how the new arrangements are working and to meet with managers from the Action for Children charity.

All of Basingstoke’s centres are still operating at the same locations as before, but the key changes have been to the management structure.

The centres are now grouped in clusters, meaning that management costs have been significantly reduced, allowing for the increase in frontline staff.

Mrs Miller also met parents at the centre to get their views on how the new system is bedding in.

She said: “Children’s centres are a really valuable resource which can give parents of young children the support and advice that is so important to them during their children’s early years.

“I was very pleased to hear that the focus will continue to be on providing that help to those who need it most.”