Nursery World - Children's Fund cuts threaten services

Cuts to the Children's Fund over the next two years may put in jeopardy many local programmes aimed at vulnerable children, leading children's charities and early years partnerships said last week. The Fund's expected budget of 150m a year has been slashed by 15 per cent for 2004/2005 and by around 30 per cent for 2005/2006, following a meeting of ministers on 28 January blaming an over-commitment in overall allocations and in contribu- tions to particular programmes.

The Fund's expected budget of 150m a year has been slashed by 15 per cent for 2004/2005 and by around 30 per cent for 2005/2006, following a meeting of ministers on 28 January blaming an over-commitment in overall allocations and in contribu- tions to particular programmes.

The Department for Education and Skills said, 'The over-commitment came about because of early under-spending and a wish to ensure that the money was fully used on preventative services. In addition, the Department underestimated partnerships' ability to spend as closely to budget profiles as they are now doing.'

Leading children's charity NCH has urged the Government to resolve the crisis. It said it was 'extremely concerned' about the effect that cuts would have on its delivery of programmes.

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