Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill

I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Howe, for a very full and interesting account of the questions around governance and children’s centres. I hope that I can offer her some reassurance. We are very committed to some pretty similar aspirations, but we do not necessarily agree on the way. I am not sure, having just looked behind me, whether the noble Baroness is going to be pleased with what I have to say, but I shall do my best. I agree—and I am keen to put on record—on the benefits of effective governance in children’s centres. We want parents and prospective parents to feel close to the services that centres deliver. More than that, we want them to know that their views are listened to and valued and that the services are designed around their needs. The proposals to establish advisory boards for children's centres contained in this legislation recognise that children’s centres will continue to grow and evolve, and that at some point in the future, for all the reasons that the noble Baroness set out, they may require governing bodies in their own right. I believe that our proposals to establish those advisory boards will bring opportunities for local people to influence the services that children’s centres provide and encourage accountability of children’s centres to local people, but without expecting too much, too soon, of children’s centres. That is not by any means to undervalue their potential; many children’s centres are still at an early stage of development. Our regulation-making powers, to which the noble Lord, Lord De Mauley, referred, will enable us to introduce governing bodies if, after careful consideration, it seems appropriate. To be fair, and to be clear with the Committee, we have not yet determined a timescale. There are no firm plans at this stage to introduce statutory governing bodies. I implore the Committee to understand the range of children’s centres and of stages of development that they are at. While many children’s centres already have parents forums, which play a significant role in shaping services, many centres work closely and sensitively with parents in other ways. While the Bill does nothing to prevent parents forums when centres want them locally, we would not want to impose such forums on all centres, as this might disrupt other existing, successful ways of consulting parents. Finally, I am happy to assure the noble Baroness that new Section 5C will require local authorities to include people representing the interests of parents in the local authority’s area as members of advisory boards. That is the clear connection for which the noble Baroness is looking. In addition, new Section 5D will require local authorities to consult before opening a children’s centre, making significant changes to services provided through children’s centres, or before closing a centre. Our statutory guidance will stress that local authorities should ensure that they consult parents in these circumstances. That is absolutely right. I hope that, with those reassurances, the noble Baroness will consider withdrawing her amendments.