Plans that will enable some of Islington's most deprived families to benefit from brand new Children's Centres, offering everything from parenting classes to health care, will be considered by Islington Council's Executive next week.<br><br>A report published today sets out the proposal to close Andover Early Years Centre (EYC), which operates in a run-down building on Andover estate. Parents will be offered alternative childcare places at either the brand new Mitford/Holloway Children's Centre, North Islington Nursery School, or other early years provision according to their preference.<br><br>These two facilities are being developed and upgraded into children's centres, to meet the needs of all local families in Finsbury Park and Tollington - many of whom cannot not use Andover EYC because it doesn't offer the wide range of services they require.<br><br>Cllr Ursula Woolley, Executive Member for Children's and Young People, said: "We know that Andover EYC has provided good childcare and good nursery education over the years and of course some people don't want it to go. But the centre can't provide many of the other services that families in Finsbury Park and Tollington have told us they need - such as crèches - while parents attend classes to help them into work, or give advice on health or parenting. <br><br>"The building at Andover EYC is sadly past its sell-by date, and we'd need to spend a lot of money to keep it open in the future. This just doesn't make sense when we will have Mitford/Holloway and North Islington Nursery School Children's Centres nearby. The new children's centres will give parents the chance to make use of so many extra services. I do understand only too well that moving to different childcare or nurseries is never what parents would ask for, but I'm glad that in every case, we can offer parents with children at Andover EYC their first choice of alternative nursery provision."<br><br>The development of Mitford/Holloway and North Islington Nursery School Children's Centres are part of the council's plans improve the quality of life for all young children and their families in Islington. A network of 16 Children's Centres covering the whole borough will provide a range of support to meet the needs of children more effectively, starting with improved maternity care.<br><br>The council wants all the borough's children under five and their families to be within walking distance of a centre that offers a whole range of services that are known to make a positive difference. This includes care and education places, family support and outreach, health services, advice and information and links with training and employment opportunities for parents - all delivered by a range of specialised staff working together on the same site.<br><br>As part of the proposals, the council has promised that the current staff at Andover EYC who care for under threes and children with special educational needs, would transfer to Mitford/Holloway Children's Centre with them, to ensure continuity of care. None of the staff working at Andover would be made redundant.<br><br>The full report is available at <http://www.islington.gov.uk>. Should the proposals be agreed, Andover EYC will close in September 2008. <br><br><br><br>
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009