4Children defends children's centre for offering free taxi service

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said that Oak Meadow Children’s Centre’s use of taxi firms was within the tradition of community transport. "If the prime purpose of children’s centres is to try to get people who would not normally use these services to access them, then you have to think creatively. Public transport can put some people off from attending centres and in some areas the links are not there."

Longfield was responding to criticism in local media of the Fareham-based centre’s use of taxis. Centre manager Debbie Simmons has said that without the free taxis many families would be unable to use the Sure Start centre.

Simmons added that the centre served more than 2,000 children under five with specialist services, and that every case was assessed on its own merits.

"Lack of personal or public transport means it is sometimes necessary to provide taxis. Each case is assessed according to need and the impact that not being able to access services may have on the family. We encourage taxi sharing wherever possible and also use a mini bus to reduce costs," she said.

The revelation that the centre was spending thousands of pounds with company Radio Taxis comes a month after the Portsmouth News reported that Portsmouth City Council was spending thousands of pounds on taxi journeys for young offenders and those at risk of offending.