2006

Leading Private and Voluntary consortium wins DfES contract to support national rollout of children's centres - 10 October 2006

A partnership of leading children’s services organisations has been awarded a major contract to support the development of Children’s Centres across England. 

Following a tender process over the summer, the Department for Education and Skills awarded the two year contract to the Together for Children partnership led by Serco and bringing together CareandHealth, ContinYou, 4Children and PA Consulting Group.

Working regionally and nationally across England, the partnership will offer all 150 local authorities in England support and challenge to establish Children’s Centres.  Local authorities will be able to access specialist and customised support, guidance and training recognising their individual circumstances and targets. The Government is committed to establishing a Children's Centre for every community by 2010; 3,500 centres in total, with 2,500 by 2008.

Children’s centres provide an integrated range of services to children under five and their families.  The aim is for a network of centres across the country offering information, advice and support to parents and carers as well as integrated childcare and early learning, health services, family support, outreach to parents and employment advice.  Services offered will vary according to local need and parental choice, with resources targeted at families and communities who need them most.

Paul Woodgates, Head of Education and Children's Services at PA Consulting said: "We are delighted to be working with our partners in Together for Children in delivering this important initiative at the heart of the Every Child Matters agenda.  Working with our partners, we will bring to bear our skills in programme management and our experience in delivery of major national programmes for government to ensure a successful outcome.”

Elaine Simpson, Managing Director of Serco Education & Children's Services said:

“We are delighted to be awarded this contract and are really looking forward to working in partnership with the DfES, local authorities and others to help deliver his exciting programme.  We believe it will contribute to the life chances of so many children and their families. Our partnership, Together for Children, brings together a unique blend of experience of Local Authorities, education, social care, early years and programme management.  We are uniquely placed to support local authorities in their development of services to children and their families.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:Hazel Hoborough at hazel.hoborough@paconsulting.com

Hazel Hoborough PA Consulting Group 123 Buckingham Palace Road London SW1W 9SR United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7333 5445 Fax: +44 20 7333 5458 E-mail: hazel.hoborough@paconsulting.com

Notes to editors

PA Consulting

PA Consulting Group is a leading management, systems and technology consulting firm. PA draws on the knowledge and experience of its people, whose skills extend from the initial generation of ideas, insights and solutions all the way through to detailed implementation.  For almost 60 years, PA’s Government Services Group has provided practical support to governments around the world in developing and improving public services locally and nationally.  PA’s government consulting expertise covers a wide range of services including policy implementation, rapid improvements in service performance and designing and managing complex, large scale programmes so that they deliver their designed benefits on time and to budget.   

Serco

Serco is one of the leading private sector partners operating within the education and children's services sectors.   It is committed to supporting the provision of quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all learners and their communities through the provision of leadership advice, support and technology in the UK and overseas.  Serco provides technology, leadership and advice to over 500 schools and eight local authorities in the UK and, in partnership, runs education services within two local authorities. 

Care and Health

CareandHealth from its social care base delivers consultancy, interim management services and has the sector’s leading conference and training platform.  CareandHealth uses its networks which bridge social care, NHS, education, central government and capital markets to assist in the formulation of practical policy and capacity solutions that meet the modernisation agenda.  It believes that independent sector leadership is a necessary part of delivering services for people in the 21st century.  For more details visit www.careandhealth.com.

Media contact: Ingrid Chellembron 0870 901 7024 or ingrid.chellembron@careandhealth.com.

4Children

4Children is the national charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures for all children. 4Children aspires to ensure that all children, young people and families have access to a creative, safe and child focused environment, and activities. 4Children provides an information line for parents and childcare professionals with advice and support on all aspects of childcare, including details of out of school clubs. Information line 020 7522 6960 or visit

www.4Children.org.uk.  Media contact: Gavin Jones on 020 7522 6925 or gavin.jones@4Children.org.uk.

ContinYou

ContinYou is one of the UK’s leading community learning charities which uses learning to tackle inequality and build social inclusion.  It provides services and resources to support professionals in the fields of life long learning, schools, family learning, young people and health.  It’s Extended Schools Support Service currently works in partnership with 4Children and TDA (formerly the National Remodelling Team) to help meet the government’s target of all schools having the core extended offer by 2010. For further information please visit www.continyou.org.uk .  Media contact: Laura Luxton on 07970 891694 or laura.luxton@continyou.org.uk.

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