Children's centres target disadvantaged at the expense of universal services

The Evaluation of Children’s Centres in England report showed the “one-stop shop” model for delivering family and children services from a central location is being replaced by centres forming clusters and opening satellite sites.

University of Oxford researchers interviewed staff and surveyed service providers in more than 120 children’s centres across England in 2012 to assess changes in service delivery.

They found budget cuts to children’s centres meant workers were scaling back universal services and spending more time delivering targeted work and visiting families in their homes.

Single centre managers were increasingly managing a group of children’s centres. Some staff in such clusters reported a decline in the centres’ overall “organisation and management” as a result.

Oxford University professor Kathy Sylva, one of the report’s authors, said the greater focus for targeted support for vulnerable families meant other local children could miss out. 

“This change is probably positive for vulnerable families, but because there is no extra money, some of the universal services, like stay and play, are being cut back because staff are out visiting vulnerable families in their homes,” said Sylva.

Stay-and-play sessions allow parents or carers to spend time playing with their children at a children’s centre.