Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

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'In light of recent national media coverage regarding Sure Start Children’s Centres, I felt it would be helpful to provide a local update.

Wiltshire has 30 Sure Start Children’s Centres for children aged 0-5 years and their parents and carers. There is a children’s centre in each community area and more than one in the larger towns, providing one-stop-shops for families, from the antenatal period onwards. Outreach workers take services to communities and families unable to attend sessions in the centres.

The children's centres provide information for parents and signpost them to other services. They also provide access to health services and family support, offer play and development for children and parents together, help parents to access training and find work, and encourage healthy lifestyles. There are currently 14,720 children under five in Wiltshire registered with the children's centres.

Wiltshire Council has an on-going commitment to the early intervention work provided by the centres. The funding will be provided through a new early intervention grant from the Department for Education from April 2011 onwards. Wiltshire Council is committed to on-going investment in Sure Start Children’s Centres and will be ensuring value for money in delivering these centres.

Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director, Department for Children and Education.'