Nursery World - One third of Sure Start children’s centres have closed since 2010

Figures obtained by the Labour party reveal that there are
now more than 1,240 fewer designated children’s centres than when the Conservatives took office – a fall of around 34 per cent since 2010.

The figures, submitted by local authorities in response to a Freedom of Information request by the party, also show that more than 230 children’s centres have shut in the last year alone.

Local authorities were asked to provide the number of designated statutory children's centres and data for the 2016/17 financial year and for 2009/10.

They have been released ahead of an announcement by the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tomorrow about how the party plans to stand up for working families.

According to the figures, the North East and London have seen the biggest fall in numbers, with over 40 per cent of Sure Start centres lost. Two local authorities, Swindon and Solihull, reported that they have no designated children’s centres left.

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