Number of children's centres falls by more than 400

Responding to a parliamentary question by Labour’s shadow children’s minister Sharon Hodgson, Truss revealed there were 3,230 children’s centres in November 2012, 401 fewer than in April 2010.

Of these, 25 have closed completely, while the rest are the result of mergers and other forms of reorganisation, such as the creation of a central “hub” centre with smaller “spoke” centres providing limited programmes of services.

According to the figures, London is the worst hit region, with a reduction in 126 children’s centres between 2010 and November 2012. The number of children’s centres also dropped by 62 in the South East of England, during the same period.

Cornwall now has just 18 children’s centres compared to 40 in 2010. Lincolnshire has 27 fewer centres since the coalition government was formed and Birmingham has 10 fewer. In Central Bedfordshire the number of centres fell from 22 to nine between 2010 and 2012.

4Children chief executive Anne Longfield said the reduction in the number of children's centres across the country is a cause for concern.

She said: “All parents need a little extra support to help them get through tough times and it’s crucial that children’s centre doors are open wide in every community to help families when they need it most.

“We are concerned by reports that in some areas centres are closing or dramatically paring back what they provide.”

Sue Owen, director of programmes at the National Children’s Bureau, warned that centres are struggling to cope with rising demand for services, coupled with cutbacks.

“We are concerned that cuts to frontline support for families will be adding to the pressure on these services just as more disadvantaged two-year-olds will be taking up free early education,” she said.

“Both national and local government need to consider carefully their approach to early education, especially in light of research that shows that only high-quality pre-school experiences have a positive impact on children’s learning, development and wellbeing.” 

Separate figures from local authorities, obtained through Freedom of Information requests by the Labour Party, show that funding for children’s centres has been cut by a third in real terms since the 2010 general election.

Hodgson argued that local authority budget cuts are to blame for the reduction in children’s centres. She claimed that more than half of children’s centres no longer provide onsite childcare and a fifth are charging for services that were free prior to 2010.

She said: “Before the election, David Cameron said he would protect Sure Start. But on his watch we have seen more than 400 children’s centres shut down, and the services they provide be cut as well. Half of the centres that are left no longer provide onsite childcare, and one in five are charging parents for services that used to be free.”

But a Department for Education spokeswoman dismissed Labour’s claims as “nonsense”.

She said: “There are more than 3,000 Sure Start centres in England and as this parliamentary question states just 25 have actually closed, less than one per cent. They are open to all and targeted at the poorest children.

“Less than four per cent of full daycare is offered by Sure Start centres. We will give poorer two-year-olds 15 hours of free childcare every week and we are reforming funding arrangements to make sure more money goes to the front line. We are also increasing funding to £2.4bn in 2013/14 and to £2.5bn in 2014/15.”

The spokeswoman added: “Councils continue to have the freedom to spend this where it is needed most, including Sure Start centres.”