The Children’s Centres are at the heart of the community and are open a minimum of 48 weeks a year, Monday to Friday, and ten hours a day.  They bring together in one place early education, childcare, health and family support and aim to deliver the best start in life for every child upto the age of five.

They include the offer of parenting education, family support services, outreach to parents, a base for childminders, Families Information Service (FIS), further education institutions, family learning, Families Enjoying Everything Together groups (FEET), parent and toddler groups, midwife drop in sessions, and links with Jobcentre Plus.

Across the district there are currently 20 Children's Centres up and running, they are:

• Acorn Children’s Centre at Ackton Pastures Primary School (Castleford)
• Airedale Children’s Centre
• Ash Tree Children’s Centre at Smawthorne Henry Moore Primary School (Castleford)
• Butterflies Children’s Centre at Newlands Primary School (Normanton)
• Castle Children’s Centre (Sandal)
• Cedars Children’s Centre (Hemsworth)
• Forest Wood Children's Centre (Crigglestone) 
• Havercroft Children’s Centre
• Little Owls Children’s Centre at Common Road Infant & Nursery School (South Kirkby) 
• Maypole Children’s Centre at Gawthorpe J&I School
• Michaelmas Children’s Centre at St Michael’s Primary School (Flanshaw)
• Oakhill Children’s Centre at Girnhill Infant School (Featherstone)
• Orchard Head Children’s Centre (Pontefract)
• Pinmoor Children’s Centre at Pinder’s Primary School (Wakefield)
• Pomfret Children’s Centre at Chequerfield Infant School (Pontefract)
• Sharlston Children’s Centre
• Small Steps Children's Centre (Wrenthorpe)
• Stanley Children’s Centre
• Sunbeam Children’s Centre (Lupset)
• Sunflower Children’s Centre at Moorthorpe Primary School (South Elmsall)
• Sycamores Children’s Centre at Simpson’s Lane Primary School (Knottingley)
• Upton Children’s Centre

Phase 3 Children’s Centres coming to Wakefield soon – covering Horbury, and Crigglestone and surrounding areas.

To find out more about your nearest Children’s Centre follow the links on the right for contact details.  Alternatively you can go to the Family Services Directory website to see a list of services/activities available at each Children’s Centre.