Children's centres consultation delayed

Childcare minister Sam Gyimah announced in July last year that the government would launch an open consultation on the future of children's centres in autumn 2015.

Speaking at the time, Gyimah said the consultation would focus on making sure children's centres are set up to have the best impact on children's lives and maximise support to families.

He added that the consultation would drive real change in what is expected from children's centres, and that the DfE would also work with Ofsted to reform the way they are inspected.
 
However the DfE has confirmed to CYP Now that the consultation has been delayed. A DfE spokesman did not give a reason for the hold-up but said the exercise is still scheduled to go ahead. Details are to be announced "in due course", the spokesman said.

Michael Pavey, director of campaign group Labour Friends of Sure Start, said the delay will have implications on local authorities' decision making for the financial year 2016/17.

"The delay is very disappointing," he said.

"It was always taken in good faith that there would be an open and honest conversation with the DfE. It is inconceivable as to why it has been delayed. The consultation's findings could have fed through into local authority's budgets for the year ahead."

Kate Mulley, director of policy and campaigns at Action for Children, said the charity has been "keenly awaiting" the consultation and further details on government plans.
 
“The government needs to demonstrate their commitment to children’s centres and provide a bold vision for the role they can play in helping all children achieve their full potential," she said.
 
“An outcomes framework to set a clear direction for centres and a focus on supporting children in their earliest years would be a welcome centrepiece of the government’s approach.”

Data drawn from Section 251 returns last month revealed that the pace of cuts to local authority spending on children’s centres has doubled over the past year. Spending fell from £1.1bn in 2013/14 to £0.9bn in 2014/15.

The £200m funding cut is twice the reduction compared with the year before – between 2012/13 and 2013/14, council spending on children's centres fell from £1.2bn to £1.1bn.