An online survey by 4Children and the Daycare Trust has found that around 7 per cent of children's centres are expected to close, 56 per cent expect to offer a reduced service and 86 per cent will face cuts to their funding.
A total of 917 children's centre managers took part in the online survey and the results were extrapolated to give an estimate of the situation across the UK. Children's centre managers were asked how many families used the setting, whether staff have been issued with redundancy warnings, if they had had any indications about their 2011/2012 budget, and what they expected to happen this time next year.
Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said, 'Local authorities need to find new ways to ensure Sure Start children's centres "earn their keep" by allowing them to become genuine hubs for all children and families services in communities, reducing replication and improving impacts. This will lead to real savings in the longer term.'
Anand Shukla, acting chief executive of Daycare Trust, said, 'The tragedy of these cuts is that the full extent of Sure Start's impact on children's development will only be achieved in the long term - and the impending closure of so many centres means this investment will not now be fully realised.'
The findings follow separate studies published by poverty tsar Frank Field and Labour MP Graham Allen, which both highlighted the importance of investing in the early years (News, 20 January).
Mr Field said, 'It is inconceivable that we can make the foundation years effective if Sure Start children's centres all over the place are being slaughtered. Local authorities must seek to employ innovative methods to ensure families do not lose the vital support they need.'
Kathy Sylva, professor of educational psychology at Oxford University and lead author of the the Effective Provision of Pre-School Education project (EPPE), which showed that investment in a child's early years has a beneficial impact on their later success at school, said, 'Although the Government is committed to the protection of funding for children and families, many local authorities are busy cutting expenditure for early years services. We need to demonstrate to the public and to local officials how good quality, centre-based early education and care make a difference to children's life chances. This is one area of the budget that should not be cut, because much evidence shows early intervention really works.'
Children's minister Sarah Teather said, 'The new Early Intervention Grant gives local authorities the freedom and flexibility to make the best decisions for the families in their communities. We know high quality early years support can have a lasting impact on children's lives. Local authorities should be continuing to channel resources to those who will benefit most from the excellent support children's centres offer. Local authorities still have a legal duty to provide sufficient children's centre provision to meet local need and must consult communities before closing or changing children's centres.'
