CHILDREN’S services in Somerset came under fire again this week after four centres were branded “inadequate” by independent inspectors.

The performance of Taunton centres Acorns, in Roman Road, Hillside, in Eastwick Road, and the Hollies, in South Street, as well as Brock House, in Vilberie Close, Norton Fitzwarren, were criticised in an OFSTED report.

The key findings were that not enough families in most need were making use of services; the centres do not work closely enough with each other or schools; and there are insufficient opportunities for adults to improve their English, maths and volunteering opportunities.

The outcome was described by an opposition county councillor as the latest black mark on children’s service in the county.

Cllr Ross Henley (LibDem) said: “What do you expect?

“The whole vulnerable children’s services in Somerset is a debacle.

“We’ve had (interim director) Peter Lewis, one of the highest paid public servants in the country leave, two children’s homes were closed because of inadequate standards and the county had an “inadequate” OFSTED rating for child protection.

“Frances Nicholson (cabinet member for children’s services) and John Osman (council leader) need to fall on their swords and resign.

“Nothing is improving despite large sums of money being invested.”

Mrs Nicholson said the inspection results did not mean the centres were unable to keep children safe as OFSTED did not identify any safeguarding issues.

She said that the inspectors said some families receive appropriate support and practical help and that a “well-planned reorganisation aimed at improving services” has been introduced.

She said: “We accept this disappointing report and are taking action to put things right.

“The wellbeing of children is an absolute priority for this authority and I am glad that inspectors recognised that in ‘getset’ services we have plans in hand to take these services forward.”

The council reorganised its early years services in the summer, including restructuring children’s centre services, into ‘getset’ services - ‘getset’ is a new approach to providing all the help and support available to children, young people and families.

A key aim of the reorganisation was to improve the services and their uptake by the families who most need them.

*The county announced this month that it had terminated Mr Lewis’s contract, although he maintains he had already resigned for “private and personal reasons”.

County chief executive Pat Flaherty said Mr Lewis – who cost the authority £318,500 a year to employ - was sacked because “results have not matched expectations”.

*Liz Latham has asked us to point out that Brock House Children's Centre is separate to Brock House Day Nursery, where she is advisory board chairman.

She said: "Following the news item regarding the recent Ofsted Inspection of the Taunton cluster of children centres, I though it prudent to clarify a few important facts that relate to Brock House Childrens Centre and in particular Brock House Day Nursery.

"From March 2014 the Childrens Centre was taken back into Somerset County Council management. It had previously been managed by Barnardos.

"The Ofsted inspection referred to relates to services being delivered by the new Get Set Service and has no connection whatsoever to Brock House Day Nursery.

"Brock House Day Nursery has always been privately owned and managed.

"It currently has an 'outstanding' Ofsted inspection certificate, this can be viewed either at the nursery or online at the Ofsted website.

"Brock House is also a teaching centre for Early Years delivery, again another outstanding achievement.

"Parents need to be completely reassured that the two inspections are totally separate and that the quality of childcare and education being delivered by Brock House Day nursery are excellent."

*And a Somerset County Council spokeswoman said: "Our children’s centres house a range of services for families, from parenting and childcare advice and support to get into work or training, to healthy living.

"Privately-run nurseries, which are rated separately by Ofsted, are also based at three of the four children’s centre sites - Brook Green Early Years Nursery, at Hillside, and the Wyvern Nursery Group, at The Hollies, which are both rated 'good' by Ofsted, and the Brock House day nursery, which has an outstanding rating from Ofsted.