Nursery World - Children’s centres facing cull nationwide

Fears are mounting that children’s centres are on the brink of extinction as the number under threat continues to rise.

The national Save our Children’s Centres (SOCC) campaign told Nursery World it is has seen a ‘huge’ increase in councils closing or reducing its number of centres and it fears there will soon be no children’s centres dedicated to early years.

Action for Children, which operates 128 children’s centres, said provision is closing or being ‘hollowed out, abandoning tens of thousands of children and families who need support’.

A snapshot survey carried out by Nursery World reveals that in the past 12 months at least 24 centres have closed, while 64 have been earmarked for closure across three local authorities. A further 125 children’s centres are at risk of closure as local authorities put out their plans for consultation.

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