Ofsted report "exemplary" service provided by Action for Children in Sheffield

Early Days Children's Centre and its nursery, which are run for Sheffield City Council by Action for Children, were celebrating this week after being rated 'good' and 'outstanding' respectively by inspectors from Ofsted, the body responsible for regulating services for children.

One of the first Sure Start centres, Early Days opened in a former family centre on Palgrave Road, in 2004. It offers a range of services to families with children aged up to five years. Many of the 400 children currently registered with the centre live in an area classified as being in the top 30 per cent of disadvantaged areas in the country, with parents increasingly struggling with issues such as unemployment.

Helping parents and carers overcome such obstacles is what the centre's staff strive for every day, so they are pleased with the inspection's judgement that support for those children and families who are in particularly vulnerable situations is "exemplary".

The nursery, which is housed in the same building, was described as 'vibrant, highly inclusive and very welcoming', and inspectors rated it 'outstanding' in every section of the grading document.

Jo Zasada, Children's Centre Manager, is delighted: "We are very proud that both Ofsted inspections agreed we are making a real difference to the outcomes for children and families who use Early Days Children's Centre," she said.

Parents who use the services are not surprised by the findings of Ofsted. Peter Taylor, a dad of three, said: 'I have used the centre for the past six years. I'm a stay-at-home dad as my wife works full time and being able to bring my children to a centre as warm and friendly and as welcoming as Early Days has been great for my confidence."

Councillor Jackie Drayton, Sheffield City Council's Cabinet member for Children, Young People and Families said: "Congratulations to everyone at Early Days for such an outstanding report. The staff have worked very hard to achieve these brilliant results and they are well deserved. The centre is a tremendous asset for the local community and one that we are all very proud of."

• For information about what is on at Early Days Children's Centre or to enquire about childcare places, call in or telephone 0114 250 3060.