**Essex County Council are consulting parents across Essex, via a feedback form, about their experiences of using or looking for childcare and out of school activities for their children. Please click here for more information or for the link to the form**

Welcome to Ormiston Children's Centres Colchester. The seven Children's Centres in Colchester are managed by Ormiston Children & Families Trust and are there to serve families with children aged under 5 years in their local communities.

Ormiston Children and Families Trust work to promote the wellbeing of children and young people through projects based around the Eastern Region. Working in partnership with Essex County Council, voluntary and statutory organisations, families and communities they are managing the 7 Children's Centres in Colchester.

Ormiston Children's Centres are funded through the Government's Sure Start programme and combine care and education for young children, health services, family support and a base for childminders. The centres bring together locally available services although they will not necessarily all be developed on one site. The 7 main centres are based in Greenstead, St Annes and Castle, Berechurch, Highwoods, New Town, Shrub End and a centre in Birch serving rural areas.

Families will find information and support available in each centre and the opportunity to talk to staff leading the groups and activities. There are opportunities for families to meet at drop ins and sessions with rhymes and singing, crafts and physical play. There is information about Job Centre Plus and Childminders network at each centre and pre-schools.

Information about activities in all 7 Colchester Children's Centres can be found in the 'What's On' section of this website.

We look forward to seeing many families at Ormiston Children's Centres and talking to you about how well your needs as a family are being met.