When the children's centre agenda was launched in 2004, it seemed to offer more threat than opportunity to private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers. Who could forget the well-documented lack of consultation with existing businesses and the building of brand new centres almost next door to providers with spare capacity?
Six years down the line, and with the number of centres nudging close to this year's 3,500 target, many would agree that the situation has improved and that children's centres can offer potential for growth.
With the focus tightening around children's centres' original remit of reaching disadvantaged families, the PVI sector might have reason to feel it is in a strong position.
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