She visited Honeycomb Children’s Centre in Chiltern Way, to meet staff there, together with managers from the Action for Children charity which is now responsible for the management of all of Basingstoke’s Children’s Centres.

The key change is in the management structure, with all Basingstoke’s Sure Start Centres continuing to operate in the same locations as before. The Centres are now grouped in “clusters”, meaning that management costs have been significantly reduced, allowing for an increase in important front-line staff at the Centres.

While she was at Honeycomb, Maria also had the opportunity to meet some parents, who were there with their children, and hear from them what having the Children’s Centre meant for them.

Maria said: “Children’s Centres are a really valuable local resource which can give parents of young children the support and advice that is so important to them during their children’s early years. I was very pleased to hear that the focus will continue to be on providing that help to those who need it most.”