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Council considers closing all children's centres

1 min read Early Years
Central Bedfordshire Council is considering radical plans to close all of the region's children's centres just two years after overhauling provision, CYP Now can reveal.

A leaked report shows that the council is considering 10 different models for the future delivery of children's centres services, including one that would see all nine existing children's centre "hubs" shut.

The children's centres at risk are in Biggleswade, Dunstable North, Dunstable South, Flitwick, Houghton Regis, Leighton Buzzard, Sandy, Shefford and Stotfold with Arlesey.

In their place, primary schools would be used to deliver targeted support to disadvantaged families with children under two.

Of the remaining options under consideration, five propose to reduce the number of children's centres but the extent of closures is not revealed.

Two of those options would involve provision of services for all families with children under five; one would deliver targeted support for disadvantaged families with children of the same age group; one would offer services for all families with children under two; and one would provide targeted services for disadvantaged families with children under two.

The other four options under consideration, including maintaining the status quo, would see all nine centres stay open.

Under these options, service provision would either be targeted at families with children under two or under five.

Mark Versallion, the council's lead member for children's services, said the authority is reviewing service provision because its children's centres contract is drawing to an end.

He said: "We've not made any decisions yet. I am intending to run a consultation this summer to get everyone's views before any decision is made.

"Helping young families, especially those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, get off to a great start in life is something that really matters to us.

"Children's centres play a key role in making this happen and will continue to do so moving forward, whatever changes to the service are made."

According to the report, the authority will hold a public consultation on the plans from 27 May until 19 August.

The new model is expected to take effect on 1 April 2015.

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