Glowing Ofsted report for Coin Street Family & Children’s Centre

The centre, which serves families in both Lambeth and Southwark, is run by social enterprise and development trust Coin Street Community Builders.

Services offered include a 64-place day nursery for babies and children under 5, holiday play schemes for 4-11 year olds, family support and outreach, 1:1 training and employment advice, midwifery services, and a wide range of other programmes and activities.

The centre works with partners to provide a 'one-stop shop' for parents, carers and their children.

In 2007 the children's centre moved from prefabs on Upper Ground to the purpose-built neighbourhood centre on Stamford Street.

Ofsted reports that users of the service are "extremely satisfied" and feel they have a "real voice" in developing services to meet their needs. It recognised that the centre "greatly benefits" from the expertise and community programmes of CSCB.

"I am delighted that the excellent work of Coin Street family and children's centre has been recognised following the recent Ofsted inspection," says Kate Hoey MP.

"This is a marvellous resource for local children and their families, offering a warm welcome and a quality service to all who come through the door.

"Once again Coin Street has demonstrated its real passion for improving local services."

The inspectors were particularly impressed by the range and quality of the services provided and highlighted the standard of education offered through Coin Street's childcare and early learning sessions and the opportunity the centre offers to increase children's readiness for school and healthy life choices.

They remarked on the "exemplary" work and support given to the neighbourhood's most vulnerable families and the "outstanding" way in which the centre works to keep children safe and enjoying their time at the centre.

Work with parents/carers was highlighted, with inspectors noting the "excellent' assessment of individual needs, the "high quality" advice and guidance and the "excellent" outcomes for families using services. The centre's work with fathers and male carers, lone parents, and parents and children with disabilities received particular praise.

• Read the full report on the Ofsted website