Councils pinpoint success

The key to the swift designation and opening of children's centres is the use of a finely-tuned project management team and the development of services before the completion of capital projects, according to the local authorities who have unveiled the most centres in the past year. Minister for children, young people and families Beverley Hughes revealed that 500 children's centres have been designated or opened in the past 12 months. She also announced last week that the families of one million children can now access services at 1,250 centres.