Nursery World - Sector fears LEAs will redirect cash

Plans to develop children's centres could be hampered by a lack of clarity over whether the funding for them will be protected. The Chancellor said in his spending review speech in July that an extra 100m would be made available to create 2,500 children's centres by 2008.

The Chancellor said in his spending review speech in July that an extra Pounds 100m would be made available to create 2,500 children's centres by 2008.

Although no formal announcement has been made about how the initiative will be funded, the Government has made it clear that local authorities will be responsible for developing local strategies for children's centres.

But early years professionals are concerned that once the money moves from Sure Start local programmes to children's centres in 2006, it will no longer be ring-fenced.

Speaking at a conference on children's centres in London last week sponsored by Children Now magazine, Sandra Shears, programme manager for Ipswich Sure Start, said that the Government is taking a 'huge risk' in putting power back into the hands of local authorities.

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