A CHILDREN’S centre that could soon be downgraded to a “delivery site” for children’s services has been given a good rating by Ofsted.

Menston and Burley Children’s Centre, managed by Bradford Council, was praised by inspectors following a recent inspection.

The centre on Main Street is one of nine the council plans to turn from Ofsted registered centres to delivery sites as part of a shake up of centres to save £2.4 million.

There will still be services offered at the centres, but at a reduced level, as part of ‘clusters’ of children’s centres.

The report by schools inspection body Ofsted was welcomed by the centre.

Centre manager, Lizzie Hughes, said: “We are pleased with the report which highlights lots of good work that we are doing. We know there is more to do, and we are already putting steps in place that will help us make further improvement.”

Ofsted highlighted just two areas the centre needs to develop to be classed as “outstanding”. These included further development of its tracking systems so that children’s progress can be monitored, and strengthening and improving its evaluation methods, by ensuring staff formally evaluate and record evaluations of all activities provided by external partner organisations.

The report said: “The quality, range and balance of services and activities offered by the centre and its partners are good. They include activities that are open to all families and those that are targeted at particular groups. Activities and services are also well matched to the needs of priority groups and help to improve their well-being.”

It says most families in the area are registered with the centre, and staff know their community very well.

Leadership, governance and management are “highly effective” in monitoring the centre’s performance, said Ofsted, and as a result, the centre continually improves the quality of its work and outcomes for families.

The report said parents’ involvement in decision making at the centre is “exemplary”, with parents well represented on the advisory board and also involved in selecting new members of staff.

Bradford Council portfolio holder for children’s services, Cllr Ralph Berry, said: “This is a positive report that shows the centre is doing good work. The report acknowledges that the quality of leadership, governance and management is good and that the council has set ambitious targets for the centre.”