Brief History
In February 2001 the Department for Education & Skills (DfES) designated Canterbury Children's Centre an Early Excellence Centre. This recognised the previous work of the Centre in providing good quality services to children and their families, and meant the Centre would receive funding for 3 years to adapt and refurbish the building, purchase resources and employ additional staff. This would enable the Centre to enhance and develop the range of services it offered.
Canterbury Children's Centre is situated on the perimeter of a large council estate, approximately 2 miles from the centre of Bradford. It was founded in 1985 by amalgamating Horton Park Nursery School and Canterbury Day Nursery, and was the first Combined Centre in Bradford. Combined Centres aimed to integrate services for children and their families. The Centre was managed by Social Services, and staffed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals from Education and Social Services who had a wide range of qualifications and experience.
The centre offered a range of groups for parents and extended care for children, especially where families were experiencing difficulties. During the 1990's some of these services were curtailed as Social Services had to direct its focus towards statutory Child Protection work. In September 1999 management of the Centre transferred to the Early Years and Childcare Service. Staff undertaking Child Protection work were transferred to Social Services across the Metropolitan District which covers Bradford and Keighley.
In the period 2000-2005 the centre has been involved in a number of major initiatives including Education Action Zones, Early Excellence Centres, Neighbourhood Nurseries and Sure Start Local Programmes.
The centre is now a designated Childrens Centre and delivers the full core offer.
