Sure Start Centres closing

Some 47 Sure Start Children's Centres have closed or been earmarked for closure within the  next year, according to Labour's Shadow Children's and Families Minister.

Some 47 Sure Start Children's Centres have closed or been earmarked for closure within the  next year, according to Labour's Shadow Children's and Families Minister.

Sharon Hodgson's research is based on Freedom of Information requests sent to local authorities in England about their plans for the country's 3,600 Sure Start Centres and on their children's centre budgets. Only 92 answered a question about whether they were planning closures, with the rest responding to the request for information about their centres' budget.

The research suggests eight out of 10 have cut funding in the past year and nine out of 10 are planning to do so in 2012.

The Government says there is enough money available to protect children's centres and that it hopes the money will be targeted at those most in need, but Children's Minister Sarah Teather said it was up to lcoal authorities to decide how they spent their money.

Sharon Hodgson MP says "an overwhelming majority of councils have cut their funding for the service". “Sure Start Centres are closing as a direct result of Tory cuts which go too far, too fast.

“But even these figures don’t tell the whole story that parents are seeing on the ground: of the services withdrawn from Centres, opening hours cut and trusted staff sacked."





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