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Thousands of children's centres hit with budget cuts

More than two-thirds of children’s centres have had their budgets cut this financial year and 130 are at risk of closure, new research shows.

According to 4Children’s annual Children’s Centre census for 2015, based on responses from 388 managers representing 1,000 children’s centres in England, 68 per cent have had their budgets cut this financial year.

When extrapolated across all 3,382 children’s centres in England this equates to around 2,300 settings that have seen reductions to their budget, says 4Children.

Publication of the census follows an announcement by the childcare minister Sam Gyimah to launch a consultation into the future of children's centres in the autumn.

According to the census, as a result of budget cuts centres are having to reduce the number of services they offer and staff they employ.

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