Councils fail to share new birth data with children's centres

The report The Right Start, found that 37 per cent of councils do not inform children’s centres about new births in their area, contrary to government guidance. A further 10 per cent do share information about new births but only on a quarterly or annual basis.

A key factor cited among those councils that are failing to adhere to government information sharing guidance was that they were unable to get the information from local health services.

The charity says these latest findings show the need for a legal duty on all councils and health services to share such information.

But in November 2013 an amendment to the Children and Families Bill to require NHS trusts to share data with councils was rejected by the government on the grounds that existing guidance was strong enough.

The Children’s Society says without information about new births children’s centres are unable to contact new families, particularly those who are vulnerable, to offer support.

It also means they will struggle to know 97 per cent of families in their area, a key target needed to gain an "outstanding" grade from Ofsted.

The Children’s Society’s chief operating officer Val Floy said: “The first years in a child’s life are critical in supporting school readiness, learning and development, and family relationships, and we know early education and support is particularly important for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
 
“By withholding vital data about new births, councils and health services are preventing children’s centres from fulfilling their core purpose to support children in their early years. The authorities should do the right thing and give children’s centres the information they need to do their job.”

The findings were based on Freedom of Information Act responses from 147 councils.