New Centres for Sidley and Pebsham

East Sussex County Council has agreed to a massive expansion of children's services, creating 18 new centre's across the county.

The expansion will mean that an additional 13,000 children will have access to health services, family support, early education services and childcare at one of the new centres.

New centres are due to be opened at Pebsham Community School and at the Sidley Community Association, adding to the Sure Start centre previously opened in Egerton Park.

The centres will provide a one-stop-shop to families with children under five and will be linked to training and employment advice for parents and carers.

Each centre will provide core childcare services and early learning for young children.

They will also provide a base for childminders and help single parents back into employment.

Other services may include parenting courses, speech therapy, home visiting, parent and toddler groups and midwifery services '“ depending on the needs of the area.

Over 5m will be spent on improvements to the 18 sites ready for the new services. These range from brand new buildings to smaller adaptations or refurbishments.

The new locations were chosen following widespread consultation with schools, parents and carers. Discussions have also involved health services, voluntary and private organisations who will work with the centres to provide services.

County councillor Rupert Simmons, lead member for Learning and School Effectiveness, was delighted with the decision.

He said: "This is very exciting news. It builds on the excellent work done in the development of Phase 1 of our children's centres which has shown that an integrated approach provides the best support to families with young children.

"Our vision is to create a children's centre in every community by 2010 and this is a big step towards that. The centres will also offer informal support to parents who might otherwise be isolated or who are reluctant to approach traditional services."

The services will be gradually developed over the next two years - with all 18 centres planned to be up and running by 31 March 2008.

Information for parents will be available in local libraries and the centres themselves.