FAMILIES in Great Sankey received a boost after a new children’s centre opened its doors on Monday.

The former Great Sankey Primary School building on Liverpool Road has been described as a 'one-stop shop' for families and their children aged 0 to five.

The Great Sankey Children’s Centre and Early Years Training Hub will offer a range of Sure Start children’s services including health, early education, and employability and volunteering opportunities.

Sessions already familiar to families in the area such as Chatterbox, Mini Makers, Jumping Jacks and Baby Explorers will continue and additionally, the centre will also offer adult learning sessions including first aid.

Cllr Jean Carter, executive board member for children and young people’s services at the council, said: “We know the population in West Warrington is growing, and we wanted to make sure families and young children in this area had access to first-class facilities.

"Services will be aimed at supporting families and their children aged 0 to five years in getting the best start in life.

“We will be building on the excellent services delivered at Sankey Valley St James centre and will be able to offer longer opening hours and more spacious facilities.

"The centre will also be available for hire to local community groups and will increasingly feature sessions delivered by parents and carers.”

Services that used to be run from Callands and Sankey Valley children’s centre have been relocated to the Great Sankey site, providing a larger, fit-for-purpose centre for the growing population.

A training hub will also enable the information and childcare team at Warrington Borough Council to provide bespoke and commissioned training, information, support and guidance to the early years sector across Warrington.

The training room will cater for around 20 to 25 delegates and training will be available throughout the day from 9am, Monday to Saturday, including evenings.

Last summer, the council consulted on children’s centres across Warrington and how best the needs of families could be met.

Unlike previous buildings, the new centre and hub will be operating for the full working day and the training hub will be open at weekends.

For more information call 636856 or e-mail catkins@warrington.gov.uk.