main content Cutting Edge Bromley project celebrated

The Bromley Early Support Programme, which ensures families with very young children with disabilities receive a joined-up service, has been celebrated at an event at the Civic Centre.

Early Support brings together more than 130 professionals from Education, Social Services, local NHS and the voluntary sector. The aim is to help families negotiate the wide variety of services on offer with a range of useful packs to work from.

The Bromley team, based at the Phoenix Children’s Resource Centre, in Masons Hill, was chosen as one of nine regional pilot areas to develop the £13 million national programme, which has been extended to 45 Local Authorities, and has been at the cutting edge of this major initiative.

Bromley Mayor Councillor Mrs Anne Manning joined Councillors and senior officers from the Council and Bromley Primary Care Trust at the event yesterday. The day also included training for professionals in the new family packs, which will be used nationwide, and were developed with the help of the Bromley Early Support team.

Executive Councillor for Children and Young People Councillor Graham Arthur said: “The Early Support team and all the staff at the Phoenix do a phenomenal job, and they have been right at the leading edge of this important national scheme.

"By bringing together services across the different agencies to work with their families, we can really help to make a difference to these young children’s lives. The team thoroughly deserves to be congratulated."

Helen Norris, Headteacher of the Phoenix, said: "We have learned so much from our parents and can’t thank them enough for all the support they have given us. They have been a vital help in shaping the service.

"We are honoured to be part of this wonderful national programme and the event was all about celebrating what we have achieved so far and how we build on that for the future."

Guests heard from parents about how important the Early Support programme is to them, and they also heard from representatives of the National Early Support Team.

Elizabeth Andrews, Deputy Programme Director of the national team, said: “Bromley has been at the forefront of the development of this national initiative. It already had a history as an acknowledged centre of excellence providing well-established support for families, which is central to achieving positive outcomes."


ENDS