Middle class mums and children's centres

I have been meaning to write about the latest children's centre research. It found that while there was a good awareness of childcare at centres, parents seemed to know less about the health, family and parenting services.

In Hackney, or at least the bit of it I live in, we couldn't help but be aware of the health services in the local children's centre (the Ann Tayler) as it was where I was directed for my postnatal midwife appointments. I was incensed at the time, muttering about the service my sister got in leafy Essex ( home visits every day from a midwife or health visitor for ten days) while heaving myself and baby across the park to the children's centre. But I suppose it did get me through the door of the centre, where the midwifes flagged up all the other stuff on offer - breastfeeding support, baby massage, yoga. I came back to do the baby massage and, later, the stay and play.