250 Sure Start centres face ‘slaughter’
By politics.co.uk staff
An estimated 60,000 families will be affected by the closure of 250 Sure Start centres, two childcare charities have warned.
Research by 4Children and the Daycare Trust found seven per cent of all Sure Start centres were likely to face the axe because of budget cuts.
Over half will provide a reduced service and nearly nine out of every ten centres will have a decreased budget, their national survey found.
The coalition’s comprehensive spending review protected funding for Sure Start children’s centres – but removed the ringfencing requirement which forced local authority to spend the money on them.
“Local authorities need to find new ways to ensure Sure Start children’s centres ‘earn their keep’ by allowing them to become genuine hubs for all children and families services in communities; reducing replication and improving impacts,” 4Children chief executive Anne Longfield said.
“Voluntary and community organisations stand ready to help councils find innovative solutions to these funding dilemmas.”
Labour MP Frank Field, who advises the government on poverty and life chances, said that it would be “inconceivable” that foundation years could be made effective if Sure Start centres are “slaughtered”.
“Local authorities must seek to employ innovative methods to ensure families – especially the poorest families – do not lose the vital support they need.”
The research comes after another Labour backbencher, Graham Allen, published the interim findings of his early intervention commission calling for a renewed focus on the early years of a child’s development.
