Jonathan Werran 29 October 2013

Charity makes plea for councils to spare children's centres

More than a million families are making use of local children’s centres, research by a national children's charity has revealed.

The Children's Centre Census 2013 produced by national charity 4Children shows children’s centres have experienced a 73% increase in the number of families using their services in the last year.

Nearly two thirds of disadvantaged families with children under the age of five, around 320,000 households make use of children’s centres, the figures also indicate.

Children's centre The charity is urging councils to keep funding children's centres.

But the census finds two thirds of centres (66%) are running on smaller budgets compared with the previous year, 31% plan to cutback services in a year’s time and one in fifty expects to close by this time next year.

The charity argues that valuable work preventing family breakdown would be put at risk if council funding cutbacks are realised and calls of local authorities and central government to place children’s centres at the heart of intervention strategies.

4Children also recommends that there be a standard of universal provision throughout the national network of children’s centres and calls for extra investment through extending the pupil premium to the early years.

‘Local authorities are under extreme financial pressure to make tough decisions, but the long-term social and financial rewards will come with filling up, not closing down these crucial centres, which have already provided a cost-effective lifeline for hundreds of thousands of families,’ said Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Democratic Services, Elections & Monitoring Officer

Harborough District Council
Grade 12 £67,236 – £71,223 plus £3000pa Statutory Officer Allowance
We are looking for an accomplished and proactive leader for our vacant post of Head of Democratic Services & Elections Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Recuriter: Harborough District Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
£35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression)
We are looking for social workers who have completed the assessed and supported year in employment to join our Families First teams, working with our Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £35,412 - £39,152 (Pre-Progression) / Grade 11 £40,777 - £45,091 (Post-Progression)
Are you a nurturing social worker passionate about supporting parents so that children can remain with their birth family?     This could be the right Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Administrative Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 4 £25,583 - £26,824
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Administrative Officer to join our busy, friendly team, supporting Children and Young People’s Services. 1 x Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Lunchtime Play Worker

Durham County Council
£24,796 pro rata
Lunchtime Play Worker Grade 1 £24,796 pro rata Part Time - 6.25 hour per week, Monday – Friday
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner